|scientific name Nadata gibbosa (J.E. Smith)|
common name White-dotted Prominent, Rough Prominent
Deciduous and mixedwood forest and shrubland.
Adults are on the wing from the end of May to late July. Larvae from late June through early Sept.
A fairly large (3.8-5.9 cm. wingspan) orange, yellow-brown or rusty-orange moth, with prominent antemedian and postmedian lines. There are a pair of diagnostic small silvery white spots in the center of the pointed forewing. Male antennae are bipectinate and the females have simple antennae. Unlikely to be mistaken for any other Alberta moth. The similar Notodontid moth Datana ministra should also occur in southern Alberta; it can be separated from Nadata by it's maroon head and thorax.
Adults are nocturnal and come to lights. There is a single brood, which overwinter as pupae. The larvae are solitary defoliators.
A fairly common, widespread species.
No Alberta data available. Elsewhere in Canada, a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs, with a very strong preference for white birch (Betula papyrifera), and to a lesser extent Red alder (Alnus rubra) and willow (Salix) (Prentice et al, 1962).
Transcontinental across the wooded portions of Canada, south to Florida and California. In Alberta, found mainly in the Boreal Forest region, north to the north shore of Lake Athabasca and the Peace River; less commonly in the Aspen Parklands.
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