© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Drexel's datana moths

FILE - Drexel's datana moth.Wik
Wikimedia
FILE - Drexel's datana moth.Wik

Datana drexelii, commonly known as the Drexel's datana, is a species of moth native to North America.

Transcript (edited for clarity):

RUDY MANCKE:

Hi, this is Rudy Mancke from USC for NatureNotes.

Kathy lives in Fountain Inn, SC, and sent me some caterpillars and wondered what they were. They were on her blueberry bushes, and it was one of what are called, interesting name, the handmaid moth. This one was the specific Drexel's handmaid moth, or Drexel's datana moth — datana being the scientific name.

These things are the ones that when you touch them, bother them, the caterpillars actually pull up one, both ends of their body, and you end up having this C shaped look to all the caterpillars. They pupate in the ground.

Stay Connected
Rudy Mancke served as naturalist and co-host of South Carolina ETV's <i>NatureScene</i>, which began its long run in 1978. His field trips, broadcast nationwide, earned him a legion of dedicated viewers. Rudy's knowledge of the complex inner-workings of different ecosystems and his great admiration for the natural world make him the perfect guide. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation and the Garden Club of America honored his commitment to resource conservation with special awards. After retiring from SCETV, Rudy went on to become naturalist-in-residence at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. He hosted SC Public Radio's <i>NatureNotes</i> from 1999 until his death in 2023 at age 78.