RED-WASHED PROMINENT

RED-WASHED PROMINENT

Oligocentria semirufescens
PROMINENT MOTH FAMILY (Notodontidae)

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The Red- Washed Prominent moth has a wingspan of about 1.50 inches (30 – 45 mm). The forewing is gray shaded with red, violet or brown. Usually has a black basal dot and reniform spot. Dark veins are pronounced. The hindwing is pale brown shaded with gray. The caterpillar is yellow, pink or reddish brown with brown mottling. Abdominal segment 1 has a forward-pointing horn and abdominal segment 5 is humped. The head is light brown with a dark brown dorsal stripe. It grows to 1.5 inches.

 

The frequency of occurrence of this moth at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. It has been photographed twice at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in August 2011 and 2015. It is found in woodlands and forests from Canada to Florida and east Texas. Adults fly from May to September.

 

The larvae eat a variety of trees and shrubs including alder, apple, birch, maple, poplar, rose and willow. There are 2 broods each year.

 

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