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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Notodontidae 930037 – 7906   Datana contracta Walker, 1855              Contracted Datana

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Fagaceae.  Host genera: Castanea Quercus.  Notes: Castanea & Quercus, other reports of Carya Hamamelis Juglans Ulmus Vaccinium unreliable, does not mention Betula Fraxinus Platanus Rosa (JS Miller et al 2018); leaves (Wagner 2005).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: contracta Walker, 1855 (Datana) - MONA 1983: 7906

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history) Miller, J.S., D.L. Wagner, P.A. Opler & J.D. Lafontaine, 2018. Drepanoidea, Doidae; Noctuoidea, Notodontidae (Part): Pygaerinae, Notodontinae, Cerurinae, Phalerinae, Periergosinae, Dudusinae, Hemiceratinae. The Moths of America north of Mexico, Fascicle 22.1A: 147; pl. A-5, figs. 22-27 (order). Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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