Moth Photographers Group – Datana ministra

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Notodontidae

930033 – 7902 Datana ministra (Drury, 1773)

Yellow-necked Caterpillar

Photographs are the copyrighted property of each photographer listed. Contact individual photographers for permission to use for any purpose.

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Distribution:	Canada: NS to SK; USA: ME south to FL and west to WY and eastern TX. (Miller et al. 2018)
Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Anacardiaceae Betulaceae Cupressaceae Ericaceae Fabaceae Fagaceae Hamamelidaceae Juglandaceae Malvac.. Host genera: Acer Amelanchier Betula Camellia Carpinus Carya Castanea Corylus Cotoneaster Crataegus Cydonia Eriob... Host extended: wide variety of woody trees and shrubs (Powell & Opler 2009); other woody shrubs & trees, on leaves ... (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	930033.1 Datana californica: is found in the Pacific Northwest south to San Luis Obispo Co., CA. Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	ministra (Drury, 1773) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: 7902 ruficollis Walker, 1862 (Datana)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
Miller, J.S., D.L. Wagner, P.A. Opler & J.D. Lafontaine, 2018. Drepanoidea, Doidae; Noctuoidea, Notodontidae (Part): Pygaerinae, Notodontinae, Cerurinae, Phalerinae, Periergosinae, Dudusinae, Hemiceratinae. The Moths of America north of Mexico, Fascicle 22.1A: 141; pl. A-5, figs. 1-3 (order).
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 33.54m; p. 249. Book Review and ordering
Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
Species Page at Block Island Moths
Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Species Page at Mass Moths
Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Species Page at iNaturalist
Species page at Moths of North Dakota.