Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve
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Insects of Cedar Creek
Order LEPIDOPTERA
Family NOTODONTIDAE
(Prominents)
The larvae of many of the Prominents (136 NA spp) often have a grotesque
appearance and many are better known than the corresponding adults. Most
are woodland species that feed on tree foliage. Nearly 15 species have
been collected at Cedar Creek. Colonies of the Sumac
Datana,
D.
perspicua, are occasionally found on sumac. The larvae of this
and other Datanas (
D. contracta (oaks) and
D. angusii
(birch)) feed gregariously and rear their heads and tails when disturbed.
Other Prominents collected that frequent woodlands include
Clostera
albosigma (aspen, willow),
Nadata
gibbosa (various trees),
Peridea
ferruginea (birch),
Peridea angulosa (oaks),
Odontosia
elegans (aspen),
Nerice
bidentata (elm),
Gluphisia septentrionis (aspen),
Furcula
borealis
(cherry),
Furcula cinerea (birch, aspen),
Oligocentria
lignicolor (oaks),
Pheosia
rimosa (aspen, willow), the Variable Oakleaf caterpillar,
Lochmaeus
manteo (oaks+),
Symmerista
canicosta (oaks), and the Pink Prominent,
Hyparpax
aurora (scrub oaks).