Page 517 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION United States and southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains,
south to Florida; also California
HABITAT Woodlands, parks, barrens, and orchards
HOST PLANTS Oak (Quercus spp.), apple (Malus spp.), birch (Betula spp.),
basswood (Tilia spp.), willow (Salix spp.), and other woody trees
NOTE Commonly encountered, showy caterpillar
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but rated “globally secure” by the National
Center for Genome Resources, although declining in northeast
United States

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2 ⁄ mm (40–53 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
DATANA MINISTRA 1¾–2 in (45–50 mm)
YELLOWNECKED
CATERPILLAR 515

(DRURY, 1773)

If encountered, the Yellownecked Caterpillar can exhibit some
impressive showmanship. When threatened, it raises its head
and tail portions, curling them backward dramatically over the
dorsum. This static posture of defense, maintained long after
the threat has ended, is a clearly recognizable characteristic
of the Datana genus. The caterpillars are gregarious throughout
the larval cycle, and are usually seen feeding and resting in tight
groups. Young larvae skeletonize leaves. Mature caterpillars
consume entire leaves, leaving only the thickest veins intact.

Adult moths y in June and July, the female laying masses of up
to 100 white eggs, deposited on the underside of leaves. A single
generation of caterpillars is typical, with a second brood more
likely in the south of the range. Mature caterpillars burrow into
the soil to overwinter as pupae. In the northeast of the species’
range, a conspicuous decline in population has been attributed
to the in ux of European parasitoids, which were imported to

quell Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) infestation.
The Yellownecked Caterpillar is predominantly
black in color, with four lateral, yellow lines
traversing both sides. Numerous ne, white setae
encompass the entire body. The head is black.
A bright yellow to orange plate behind the head,
sometimes obscured by setae, di erentiates the
Yellownecked Caterpillar from similarly patterned
Datana species.

Actual size