Fauna
Insect

Angus' Datana Moth

Datana angusii

Also known as Angus's Datana Moth, Angus's Handmaid Moth

Angus' datana moths are prominent woodland moths known for their rich cinnamon-brown forewings crossed by slender, dark transverse lines and an elevated, velvety thoracic crest. Caterpillars feed gregariously on hickory, walnut, and pecan foliage, often congregating in dense groups on lower branches before molting. When alarmed, the caterpillars synchronize in a dramatic defensive posture, curling both head and tail upward into a rigid, sharp U-shape.

NocturnalForest DwellerNative
Angus' Datana Moth reference1 / 7
(c) Chelsea Carroll, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyWalnut foliage, Hickory leaves, Pecan foliage
Predators
  • Vesper bats
  • Insectivorous songbirds
  • Tachinid parasitoid flies
ThreatsPesticide spraying, habitat fragmentation, and artificial light pollution disrupting nocturnal mating flights.
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, mixed hardwood forests, bottomlands, and suburban tree canopies.
Life spanSingle annual generation; adults live roughly 5–10 days, with pupae overwintering underground.
Classification
  1. FamilyNotodontidae
  2. SpeciesDatana angusii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Night Lighting: Attract adult moths during summer nights by illuminating a white sheet with a blacklight near mature hardwoods.
  • Search Trunk Bases: Inspect lower trunks of hickory or walnut trees in late summer to spot dense clusters of shedding caterpillars.
Related species
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