Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906
Datana contracta
This record describes Datana contracta (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW reddish brown, with wide, conspicuous yellowish shading along lines. Outer margin is not wavy. HW yellowish with pale brown shading. Larva can be identified by the cream-colored stripes, the subspiracular stripe being thicker than the others, and the host plant (oaks and chestnut).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phalerinae
- Genus
- Datana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US (w/ a few strays further n.) - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
mostly: June to Sept - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: chestnuts and oaks, other reported food plants may be in error
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Datana contracta. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , dennepj10 , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906
What is Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906?
Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 (Datana contracta) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906?
WS = 38-55mm
How do you identify Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906?
Adult : FW reddish brown, with wide, conspicuous yellowish shading along lines. Outer margin is not wavy. HW yellowish with pale brown shading. Larva can be identified by the cream-colored stripes, the subspiracular stripe being thicker than the others, and the host plant (oaks and chestnut).
Where is Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 found?
Range: e US (w/ a few strays further n.) - Map (MPG)
What does Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 eat?
The diet of the Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 includes chestnuts and oaks, other reported food plants may be in error.
When is Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906 active?
Contracted Datana - Hodges#7906: seasonal activity - mostly: June to Sept - MPG.