Datana perspicua

Grote & Robinson, 1865

spotted datana, spotted datana moth

Datana perspicua, the spotted datana, is a of prominent in the Notodontidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote and Coleman Townsend Robinson in 1865. The species is found in North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 7908. Three are recognized: D. p. mesillae, D. p. opposita, and the nominate D. p. perspicua.

Datana perspicua by (c) Samuel Paul Galick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Samuel Paul Galick. Used under a CC-BY license.

Datana perspicua 23207336 by Susan Blayney. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Datana perspicua 2 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Datana perspicua: /dɑːˈtɑːnə pərˈspɪkjuːə/

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Images

Distribution

North America. The has been recorded in the United States, including Arizona where it has been observed in the Chiricahua Mountains and other southeastern Arizona localities.

Diet

Larvae feed on leaves of plants. Specific host plant records for this are not documented in the provided sources, though other Datana species are known to feed on various woody plants.

Life Cycle

Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Specific details of the for this are not documented in the provided sources.

Ecological Role

Larval stage functions as a folivore (leaf-feeder). may serve as when nectaring. The is documented as prey for the thread-waisted wasp Ammophila procera.

Similar Taxa

Datana integerrimaWalnut caterpillar, another in the same with similar larval and appearance; both are late-season defoliators of hardwood trees.
Other Datana speciesMembers of this share similar and as prominent larvae that feed on woody plants.

More Details

Subspecies

Three are recognized: Datana perspicua mesillae Cockerell, 1897; Datana perspicua opposita Barnes & Benjamin, 1927; and Datana perspicua perspicua Grote & Robinson, 1865.

Predation

Documented as prey for the thread-waisted wasp Ammophila procera, which paralyzes caterpillars to provision its nest .