Bug FAQWhite-dotted Prominent
Nadata gibbosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Notodontidae
Also called: Rough Prominent, Green Oak Caterpillar Moth, White-dotted Prominent Moth, Yellowlined Caterpillar
Source: Wikipedia
The white-dotted prominent has a wingspan of about 5 cm and is tan or dull orange with two tiny silver spots on each forewing. It lives in deciduous forests across North America, from boreal regions down to Florida, and the adults appear in late spring and early summer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its forewings show two small silver spots each, and it has a pointed tuft of hair on the thorax between the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan is roughly 2 inches (5 cm).
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on oak leaves and other deciduous tree foliage.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are present in late spring and early summer, while larvae are active through the fall before pupating for the winter.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are seen in late spring and early summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs throughout North America, from northern boreal forests to Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 48 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, Maryland, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Can they damage my garden or trees?
Yes, the larvae feed on oak and other deciduous tree leaves, which can harm ornamental and shade trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Notodontidae)
Buff-tipPhalera bucephalaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Gluphisia MothGluphisia septentrionis
Pine Processionary-mothThaumetopoea pityocampaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Walnut Caterpillar MothDatana integerrimaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Unicorn ProminentCoelodasys unicornisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Angulose ProminentPeridea angulosaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_prominent
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.