Courtesy Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. 
Figure 91.—Cluster of larvae of the yellownecked 
caterpillar, Datana ministra. 
Two species of tachinid parasites, Compsilura concinnata Meigen and Winthemia 
datanae Townsend, are important natural enemies. 
Datana angusi Grote & Robinson feeds on hickory, oak, beech, gray birch, and 
butternut and occurs throughout the Eastern United States, west to Illinois, and 
along the north shore of Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada. Full-grown larvae resemble 
those of D. ministra, but differ in having an entirely black cervical shield (644). 
Datana perspicua Grote & Robinson, the sumac datana, feeds on sumac 
throughout most of the Eastern United States and in southern Canada. Full-grown 
larvae are moderately hairy and about 50 mm long. The head 1s dark reddish to 
black; the cervical shield, reddish brown; and the anal plate, blackish. The body 1s 
deep straw or lemon yellow, with 11 longitudinal, dark reddish-brown to blackish 
stripes. 
Datana contracta Walker feeds on oak and sycamore in the Eastern United States 
west to the Lake States and Arkansas. Full-grown larvae are about 50 mm long and 
clothed with long, white hairs. The body is black with 11 longitudinal, yellowish- 
white stripes. 
Datana drexelii Henry Edwards feeds on basswood, walnut, sassafras, and 
witch-hazel from the Atlantic Coast to Ohio. Full-grown larvae are moderately 
hairy and about 50 mm long. The head and body are black; the cervical shield and 
front of the thorax, honey-yellow; and the body bears 11 longitudinal stripes. 
The walnut caterpillar, D. integerrima Grote & Robinson, occurs commonly in 
southern Ontario and throughout the Eastern United States where it feeds on a wide 
variety of deciduous trees, preferably walnut, butternut, pecan, and hickory. Adults 
are stout-bodied, have wingspreads of about 50 mm, and are clothed with dull- 
brown to chestnut-brown scales. The forewings are brownish and crossed by dark, 
irregular lines. Full-grown larvae may attain 50 mm in length. The body is black 
with longitudinal, yellowish stripes and is covered with long, white or dirty-gray 
hairs. 
PAG 
