Rough prominent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rough prominent
Scientific classification

The rough prominent (Nadata gibbosa) is a type of moth that belongs to the Notodontidae family. It's also known as the white-dotted prominent or the tawny prominent. This moth was first officially described by James Edward Smith in 1797.

You can find this common moth all over North America. It lives from the cool northern boreal forests down to places as warm as Florida. It especially likes deciduous forests (where trees lose their leaves) that are a bit high up. The rough prominent moth is a night animal, meaning it's active after dark. It's often seen flying around lights. These moths start flying soon after the sun sets and go back to their resting spots before the sun comes up. Adult moths live through late spring and early summer. Their young, called larvae, are active until fall. Then, they change into a pupa (like a cocoon) and stay that way until the next spring.

This moth is usually tan or a dull orange color. It has two small silver spots on each of its front wings. Its wingspan (how wide it is with its wings spread out) is about 2 inches (5 cm). It also has a pointy tuft of hair on its back, between its wings.

Life cycle

Moths go through a complete life cycle, changing from an egg to a larva, then a pupa, and finally an adult moth.

Larva

The larva of the rough prominent moth is first blue-green. As it gets ready to change into a pupa, it turns a bright green. It has a large head and yellow mouthparts called mandibles. You can also see yellow stripes running down its body. This larva eats the leaves of oak trees and other deciduous trees. Because it likes to eat oak leaves, the larva is sometimes called the green oak caterpillar.

Food plants

The rough prominent moth larvae eat leaves from many different trees and plants. Here are some of their favorite foods:

• Acer - maple trees
• Alnus - alder trees
• Amelanchier - also known as serviceberry or shadbush
• Betula - birch trees
• Castanea - chestnut trees
• Corylus - hazel trees
• Fagus - beech trees
• Fraxinus americana - white ash trees
• Populus - poplar trees
• Prunus - a group that includes cherries and plums
• Quercus - oak trees
• Rosa - rose bushes
• Salix - willow trees

Images for kids

• 

  A close-up of the larva's head from the side.

• 

  The larva's head from the front, showing its yellow mandibles.

• 

  A view of the larva's body, showing its green color and yellow stripes.

• 

  The rough prominent moth larva on a leaf.