Yellownecked Caterpillar – Datana ministra

Yellownecked Caterpillar – Datana ministra Scientific name: Dastana ministra Common name: Yellownecked caterpillar   Appearance: Yellownecked caterpillars are orangish-green worms with black stripes and covered with white hairs and black heads. It grows up to 50 mm long and has reddish prolegs. They are usually found curved in a “U” shape. There is a bright yellow patch behind the caterpillar’s head; thus, the name. Adult moths are reddish-brown with a total wingspan of 42 mm.   Host plants or food: Yellownecked caterpillars feed on broad-leaved species, such as oak, birches, malus, and salix.   Territory: Throughout North America   Mode of damage: Yellownecked caterpillars are leaf chewers and feed on entire leaves except the veins, skeletonizing the leaves. Later, they also eat the veins, only leaving behind the stalks.   Habits and life history   Yellownecked caterpillars lay eggs on the underside of the leaves in clusters of 100. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the foliage in groups on the end of twigs, skeletonizing the leaves. Once the larva matures, it drops to the ground, making a burrow where it pupates and overwinters. They emerge as adults during spring. They produce one generation per year.