Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth
Datana ministra (Drury, 1773), fam. Notodontidae, P-no. 930033
Host plants: The recorded hosts are a wide variety of woody species in 15 plant families.
Date found(s): August 22, 2026
Location(s) found: Meramec State Park, Franklin County, MO
Notes: The yellow-necked caterpillar, like most Datana, go through several color phases as they develop. Early instars are reddish -brown to green. Mid-instars become striped but may be considerably different colors than the final instar. Although Datana caterpillars may be easy to identify at most stages, getting them to species is usually best accomplished with final instars.
