Jump to content

Rough prominent

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BD2412 (talk | contribs) at 22:16, 6 February 2016 (Recorded food plants: minor fixes, mostly disambig links using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Rough prominent
File:Nadata gibbosa.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
N. gibbosa
Binomial name
Nadata gibbosa
(J.E. Smith, 1797)

The rough prominent (Nadata gibbosa) is a moth of the family Notodontidae, possibly in the subfamily Notodontidae. It is also known as the white-dotted prominent and the tawny prominent. This common moth is found across North America from the northern boreal forests to as far south as Florida. It is most common in deciduous forests at some elevation. It is nocturnal but attracted to lights. The moths start to fly soon after dusk and return to resting places some time before dawn breaks (Fullard & Napoleone 2001). The adults live through late spring and early summer, and larvae are active until fall. They then pupate until the following spring.

The moth is tan or dull orange in color, with two small silver spots on each forewing. The wingspan is approximately 2 inches. It sports a pointed thoracic tuft between its wings.

Life Cycle

Larva

The larva is blue-green, turning bright green as it approaches pupation age. It has a large head capsule, yellow mandibles, and yellow longitudinal stripes down its body. It feeds on the leaves of oaks and other deciduous trees (see list below). The larva is sometimes called the green oak caterpillar.

Recorded food plants

References

  • Fullard, James H. & Napoleone, Nadia (2001): Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera. Animal Behaviour 62(2): 349–368. doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1753 PDF fulltext