White-Dotted Prominent

The White-Dotted Prominent is a forest moth that may go by many names, but its preference for oak trees is the same regardless of what its called.

The warm brown wings of the White-Dotted Prominent are marked with two small white dots. Thin, dark lines break the wings into thirds and this pair of dots is centered in the middle section. It has a thick, furry thorax that forms a hump most visible on its profile (as opposed to overhead). This coarse part of its body may have inspired an additional common name: Rough Prominent.

Another common name stems from the color and preferred food of its larvae. Green Oak Caterpillars chew on the leaves of oak trees, but they also eat birch, alder, maple, willow, plum, and cherry tree leaves. They are a pale green color with fleshy bodies and their green head has yellow and black mouthparts. The entire caterpillar becomes a dark purple-brown as they mature. They tend to curl into the shape of the number nine when threatened. At least two broods are produced each year; more in the warmer part of its range.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Notodontidae

Genus: Nadata

Species: gibbosa

Identifying Information

Scientific Name: Nadata gibbosa

Other Name(s): Green Oak Caterpillar Moth, Rough Prominent

Category: Butterfly or Moth

Size (Adult; Length): 20mm to 30mm (0.78in to 1.17in)

Colors: brown, white

Descriptors: lines, twin, two, white, dots, hump, bump, furry, flying

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Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

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Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Butterfly and Moth Anatomy

Graphic showing basic anatomy of a common North American butterfly and moth insect

Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.

Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.

Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.

Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.

Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.

Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.

NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.

White-Dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)

The White-Dotted Prominent is a forest moth that may go by many names, but its preference for oak trees is the same regardless of what its called.