Prominent moths are a group of fascinating insects that can be found throughout North America. These creatures have chunky bodies and are often camouflaged in gray or brownish colorations. Their heavy covering of scales gives them a fuzzy appearance, while their heads and thoraxes often showcase contrasting colors. When at rest, they display unique behaviors including holding their wings over their body like a roof or curling their wings around their abdomens, which are lifted at an angle to the substrate they’re on [1].
There are 14 species of prominent moths belonging to the genus Datana in North America, and each is distinct in its own way. All of these species resemble dried leaves and have fuzzy, dark, rusty heads [3]. Some prominent moths, such as hawk moths or sphinx moths, belong to the Sphingid family, which includes some of the largest moths in the world. These amazing creatures have long, narrow wings and thick bodies, allowing them to be fast flyers and highly aerobatic [4].
Moth Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Moths belong under the Kingdom Animalia, which consists of multicellular organisms possessing traits like mobility and heterotrophy. Moth’s are closely related to butterflies, although there are distinct differences in features and behavior.
Phylum Arthropoda
Arthropods are characterized by their exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed appendages. Both moths and butterflies fall under this category due to sharing these traits.
Subphylum Hexapoda
Hexapoda is a group containing all insects, including moths and butterflies. They possess three pairs of legs, which is a common characteristic of insects.
Class Insecta
Moths, as insects, belong to Class Insecta. Insects have three distinct body regions: head, thorax, and abdomen.
Order Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera refers to the group containing moths and butterflies, characterized by their scaled wings. However, there are subtle differences between them:
| Feature | Moths | Butterflies |
|---|---|---|
| Antennae | Feathery or saw-edged | Club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end |
| Flight | Active at night (nocturnal) or day | Primarily diurnal |
| Wing position | Hold wings over their bodies or curl around abdomen when at rest | Fold wings vertically over their backs when at rest |
Superfamily Noctuoidea
Moths fall under the Noctuoidea superfamily, whereas butterflies are classified under the Papilionoidea superfamily. The main difference is the families included under their respective superfamily.
Family Notodontidae
Prominent Moths belong to the family Notodontidae, which consists of moths with:
- Chunky bodies
- Camouflaged, gray or brownish colorations
- Heavy covering of scales for a fuzzy appearance
- Contrasting head and thorax colors
Examples of prominent moths include the spotted datana, gray furcula, and walnut caterpillar moth (source).
Main Characteristics
Wingspan
Prominent moths have a wide range of wingspans depending on the species. However, they are known for their long wings, which can be seen in many of the 3,800 species within the family Notodontidae 1. Some examples of prominent moths with distinctive wingspans include:
- Spotted datana
- Gray furcula
- Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth
- Walnut caterpillar moth
Nocturnal versus Diurnal
Moths can be classified as either nocturnal (active during night) or diurnal (active during day). Most moths, including prominent moths, are nocturnal and play a crucial role in pollination during the night 2.
However, there are exceptions as some moths are also active during the day. Different species of moths adapt their behavior and preferences according to their environments and food sources. This variety contributes to their vast diversity and prevalence across the globe.
Life Cycle and Habitat
Eggs
Prominent moths begin their life cycle as eggs, laid by females on host plants. These eggs are often hidden on the underside of leaves, providing protection from predators and harsh weather. Example host plants where eggs are laid include:
- Oak trees
- Maple trees
- Huckleberry plants
Larvae
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae (or caterpillars) emerge and begin to feed on the host plant’s leaves. As they grow, they go through several stages (called instars) and shed their skin to accommodate their increasing size. Some larvae have a unique relationship with ants, which provide them protection in exchange for sugary secretions. This mutualism between larvae and ants can be beneficial in the garden, as ants may help control other pests.
Range and Distribution
Prominent moths are found in various habitats across North America, including forests, meadows, and gardens. Their range spans from Canada down to Mexico, making them a common sight in many environments across the continent. Despite this broad range, the distribution of specific species within the prominent moth group may be more limited due to their differing host plant preferences.
| Location | Common Prominent Moth Species |
|---|---|
| Canada | Actias luna, Cerura vinula |
| United States | Datana integerrima, Nerice bidentata |
| Mexico | Euchaetes egle, Syntomeida epilais |
Overall, the life cycle and habitat of prominent moths are diverse, with different species demonstrating unique adaptations to thrive in various environments across North America.
Notable Species
Nadata Gibbosa
Nadata gibbosa, also known as the rough prominent, belongs to the Notodontidae family of moths. These moths are characterized by:
- Chunky bodies
- Generally gray or brownish colorations
- Fuzzy appearance due to heavy scales
This species is commonly found in North America, with adults having a wingspan of 35-50mm. They can be spotted around hardwood trees, particularly oak, where their caterpillars feed on leaves.
Other Prominent Moths
Apart from Nadata gibbosa, there are many other species of prominent moths, such as:
- Spotted datana (Datana perspicua): Commonly found in deciduous forests, the caterpillar feeds on various types of trees.
- Gray furcula (Furcula cinerea): Inhabits mixed hardwood forests, the caterpillar feeds on willow and poplar trees.
- Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth (Lochmaeus manteo): Distributed throughout North America, the caterpillar feeds on oak and sometimes other deciduous trees.
- Walnut caterpillar moth (Datana integerrima): Commonly found in eastern North America, the caterpillar feeds on hickory and walnut trees.
Comparison between rough prominent and other species:
| Feature | Nadata Gibbosa (Rough Prominent) | Other Prominent Moths |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | North America, hardwood forests | Varies, mainly deciduous forests |
| Size | 35-50mm wingspan | Varies depending on the species |
| Host plants | Oak trees | Different types of deciduous trees |
In summary, prominent moths are a diverse group, and species like Nadata gibbosa have distinct characteristics and host plants. These moths are essential for maintaining the ecological balance in their habitats.
Food and Pest Management
Dietary Preferences
Prominent moths are known to feed on a variety of plants and materials. Some common food plants include:
- Flowers
- Nuts
- Pears
- Other fruits and vegetation
In some cases, prominent moths can cause damage to wool, as their larvae feed on the fibers.
Companions and Pests
Moths can co-exist with other insects or even potentially benefit from companion plants. Some examples of companions for moth-infested areas are:
- Lacewings: predators that feed on moth eggs and larvae
- Parasitic wasps: these wasps lay their eggs within moth larvae, eventually killing them
Prominent moths can also be considered pests, depending on the species and situation. For example, the Spongy Moth is a significant pest that poses a threat to North American forests, while the Indian Meal Moth is a common pantry pest.
| Companion | Benefit | Pest | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacewing | Feeds on moth eggs and larvae | Spongy Moth | Threat to forests |
| Parasitic Wasp | Kills moth larvae | Indian Meal Moth | Spoils food in pantries |
One effective way to manage moth populations is by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a combination of common sense practices and pest control methods that reduces reliance on pesticides.
Identification and Resources
Genera and Synonyms
Prominent moths belong to various genera within the family Notodontidae. Some common genera include Furcula, Nadata, and Datana. It’s essential to learn about the genera and synonyms to facilitate the identification process. Here are a few features to help identify prominent moths:
- Chunky, camouflaged bodies
- Gray or brownish colorations
- Fuzzy appearance due to scales
Taxonomic Changes
Over time, taxonomic changes may occur as experts discover more information about moth species. Keep updated on these changes to maintain accurate identification and improve understanding of prominent moths.
Internet References
There are numerous internet resources available to help you identify prominent moths and learn more about their biology. Some reliable websites are:
- Moth Photographers Group — Plates Series: Offers a large collection of moth images to study their appearance and characteristics.
- PNW Moths: Contains information on more than 1,200 species of moths found in the Pacific Northwest, along with high-resolution photographs and an interactive identification key.
Utilizing these resources and observing prominent moths under various conditions, such as different lights and environments, will help you in the identification process.
Works Cited
- Prominent moths are known for their chunky bodies and camouflaged, gray or brownish colorations1.
- They often have contrasting colors on their head and thorax1.
Some notable characteristics of prominent moths include:
- A heavy covering of scales, giving them a fuzzy appearance1.
- Holding their wings over their bodies like a roof or curling them around their abdomens when at rest1.
There are 14 species of prominent moths in genus Datana in North America, all resembling dried leaves with fuzzy, dark, and rusty heads2. When it comes to pollination, moths can be active during the day as well as at night3. They are attracted to nocturnal flowers with pale or white colors, heavy fragrance, and copious dilute nectar3.
Pros of prominent moth pollination:
Cons of prominent moth pollination:
- May not cover extensive areas for pollination.
- Limited to specific plant species.
Comparison table:
| Features | Prominent Moth1 | Other Pollinators4 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Time | Day & Night3 | Day |
| Color | Camouflaged, gray, or brownish1 | Varied |
| Attracted to | Pale, White, Fragrant Flowers3 | Various types of flowers |
| Appearance (head/thorax) | Contrasting Colors1 | Varied |
Footnotes
34 Comments. Leave new
Greetings Father Sánchez,
Since my research is limited to the early stages of butterflies (not enough hours in a day to add moths), I can only identify your first photo. It is a caterpillar of the Silverking butterfly, *Archaeoprepona demophoon* (Nymphalidae, Charaxinae), which feeds on several genera in the Lauraceae, its presence on *Piper* a result of wandering. As you discovered, *Heraclides* swallowtail larvae look entirely different and more or less like this:
http://www.macrofotografia.com.br/imagebank/slide.php?url=007_inseto_lepidoptera_lagartas/&foto=tps__MG_2772-2774.jpg
Best wishes,
Keith Wolfe
hello, my name is Eileen and i just found your website today and i have to say it is awesome! the reason i even came across your website, is that i had found a beautiful pink caterpillar. now mine looks similar to this one, but not exact. i wish i could take a picture, but i cant right now. i might be able to post one later. it is this shade of pink almost, bit it has hot pink dots the size of a pin head and then theres short little yellow hairs coming out from around the hot pink dots. more scattered, not really clustered. it has a bright yellow ring around its butt. i see 6 black stick like legs in the front and maybe only suction type feet for the rest of his body. there is also a light orange line going down the length of his body with tiny light orange spots right above it also down the length of his body. he also has a gray to black belly. mine doesnt have the same face as the one in this picture. there are no 2 black dots that look like eyes. he’s a rounded face with a orange line tracing his face. what i would like to know is what it is and what they eat. im in cleveland TN and i found him by my porch on the ground in the red dirt, rocks and mulch. there is only a maple tree and pecan tree where i found him, also a little basil plant not very big though at all. also i’d like to know if he will turn into a moth or butterfly? thank you for this awesome website!
Hi Eileen,
Generally, when caterpillars turn pink they are getting ready to pupate. Though we are not certain what you found, it would probably like to bury itself to continue metamorphosis and it is probably not interested in food.
I think it is most like Sphingicampa spp. (Saturniidae), but I can’t find a match.
this is Nadata oregonensis
Powell and Opler (2009) state Nadata oregonensis is similar to Nadata gibbosa but the forewing has a yellow patch in the discal cell and the postmedian line curves slightly basal at the inner margin. The forewing of N. oregonensis appears more blotchy.
Thank you for the assistance with this Prominent Moth in the family Notodontidae. It appears to match the images on BugGuide. We knew it was not Saturniidae because we checked Bill Oehlke’s website with comprehensive species data state by state by country by continent.
Pretty cool! The spots and lines on wings reminded me a lot a Sphingicampa. I thought it was wrong too, because there was no similar Sphingicampa on BugGuide.
Hi Cesar,
We couldn’t even determine the family.
I have a 6 legged (caterpillar) there are no legs mid section or on back section. It is shiny black with brown squares …one square on each side of segment. It looks segmented and the first couple separated segments have white between it. The head is very small…There is no hair no antennas nothing else.
Does Datana perspicua feed on willow oak? I found a huge cluster of caterpillars a short while ago on a large willow oak tree. They demonstrated the behavior descibed above when I prodded the branch. I live in Gloucester Co., VA (Tidewater region). I have not noticed this particular caterpillar before. Will they harm the tree? Can I expect a bigger crop next year? Thanks!
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
hi. I just found a pink caterpillar crawling around my room. this is the 3rd time this month and while I normally think they are cute little guys (the first time) Im now starting to wonder where the heck they are coming from and why my room? tho true I dont scrub every inch spotless every week I do usually keep things nice and tidy. what is it they are so attracted to and are they particularly poisonous at all?
-Ronny in Palm Springs, CA
hi. I just found a pink caterpillar crawling around my room. this is the 3rd time this month and while I normally think they are cute little guys (the first time) Im now starting to wonder where the heck they are coming from and why my room? tho true I dont scrub every inch spotless every week I do usually keep things nice and tidy. what is it they are so attracted to and are they particularly poisonous at all?
-Ronny in Palm Springs, CA
Hi,
I’m Doreen. I live in Ontario Canada. I was cleaning the floor and saw a small pink/skin-coloured caterpillar.
It was about a half inch long. When I tried to pick it up with a piece of cardboard, it spit a pink gob at the cardboard, then scrunched itself between the floor boards.
It was smart. I tried to get it to go on the cardboard so I could put it outside. But it squeezed between the cracks of the floor boards and escaped. What is this caterpillar? Or worm? It moved a bit like an inch worm, was hairless. I’ve lived in Canada 53 years, never saw one like that, never had a caterpillar spit at me.
Thanks
Hi,
I’m Doreen. I live in Ontario Canada. I was cleaning the floor and saw a small pink/skin-coloured caterpillar.
It was about a half inch long. When I tried to pick it up with a piece of cardboard, it spit a pink gob at the cardboard, then scrunched itself between the floor boards.
It was smart. I tried to get it to go on the cardboard so I could put it outside. But it squeezed between the cracks of the floor boards and escaped. What is this caterpillar? Or worm? It moved a bit like an inch worm, was hairless. I’ve lived in Canada 53 years, never saw one like that, never had a caterpillar spit at me.
Thanks
Hi
Oh, wow, just saw the comment above. Invasion of the pink caterpillars in North America!!
Oh, bye the way. pink caterpillar’s spit was…..pink of course.
On wolfberry in Jeff Davis county TEXAS
Hi,
Two days ago we found a purple and pink caterpillar, and were able to identify it as heterocampa umbrata using this site. Thanks! Upon reading that the bright color was due to it’s being ready to pupate, I put it in a jar with a stick, hoping it would be a great science lesson for my preschool aged kids. Unfortunately I did not realize that these species bury themselves as part of metamorphosis. Our caterpillar crawled under the oak leaves in the jar and covered itself with a sticky/ hard substance. Will it die ,or will we get an awesome view of metamorphosis?
Hopefully the latter. Keep the jar humid but not wet.
Hi,
Two days ago we found a purple and pink caterpillar, and were able to identify it as heterocampa umbrata using this site. Thanks! Upon reading that the bright color was due to it’s being ready to pupate, I put it in a jar with a stick, hoping it would be a great science lesson for my preschool aged kids. Unfortunately I did not realize that these species bury themselves as part of metamorphosis. Our caterpillar crawled under the oak leaves in the jar and covered itself with a sticky/ hard substance. Will it die ,or will we get an awesome view of metamorphosis?
I found pink and purple catapiller ill try to send picture dont know what to feed
I found a pink caterpillar in mtn. grove, and when i picked it up it spit on my finger and now my finger is burning, does anyone know what the caterpillar spits?
I’m not sure if it’s the same species but I know some caterpillars spit formic acid. Hopefully you are ok now?
Hi found a pink cattapillar in Grand Terrace California.
I have pink caterpillars in my back porch. I am afraid of them. What are they? How can I get rid of them?
We found one on our porch today very beautiful species….
I think it is Ellida caniplaga:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/457165/bgpage
Wow. Thanks so much for tracking this critter down Cesar.
I think it is Ellida caniplaga:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/457165/bgpage
Just found this same Caterpillar in my driveway. I live in asheboro nc
HI I FOUND THE EXACT ONE JUST IT NEVER SPITT ON BUT IT HURTED MY ARM