Insect · GBIF taxon 1826164
Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth
Datana ministraAlso known as Yellow-necked Caterpillar, Yellownecked Datana
Adult yellow-necked caterpillar moths hide in plain sight during the day, folding their warm cinnamon-brown wings tight to mimic dried foliage or bark. Clusters of distinctive black-and-yellow-striped larvae congregate on deciduous branches in late summer, lifting both their heads and tails into a rigid U-shape when threatened. While colonial feeding can noticeably strip outer canopies of walnuts, oaks, and fruit trees, trees typically recover without lasting harm before autumn leaf drop.
NocturnalCaterpillarDeciduous Forest
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Oak Leaves
- Apple Leaves
- Walnut Leaves
Predators
- Tachinid Flies
- Parasitoid Wasps
- Downy Woodpeckers
ThreatsPesticide application, habitat destruction, and extreme weather
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, orchards, forest edges, and suburban gardens
Life span1 year
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNotodontidae
- GenusDatana
- SpeciesDatana ministra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans; larvae and adults can be observed closely on host foliage.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Larvae: Search lower canopy branches of oaks and walnuts for tight clusters in late summer.
- Observing Defense: Lightly brush an adjacent twig to watch the group rear up into synchronous defensive postures.
Host Plant (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) SalamiRaptor, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by SalamiRaptor · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Christopher Zacharias, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christopher Zacharias · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jeff Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeff Clark · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.