Pebble Prominent
Notodonta ziczac
This record describes Notodonta ziczac (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 40-45 mm. Typical of the Prominents in outline but with a fairly pale brown wing that has a ringed 'eye-like' pattern near the tip. It frequents a range of habitats but has a preference for damper localities, where the caterpillars feed on Willow and Poplar. Appearing as an adult between May and August in either one or two broods depending on latitude. The caterpillar is greyish or brownish and, like most of the Prominents, feeds with the tail segment held up in the air. A fairly common species, occurring throughout the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Notodontidae
- Genus
- Notodonta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It frequents a range of habitats but has a preference for damper localities, where the caterpillars feed on Willow and Poplar.
Seasonal Activity
Appearing as an adult between May and August in either one or two broods depending on latitude.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillar is greyish or brownish and, like most of the Prominents, feeds with the tail segment held up in the air.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species, occurring throughout the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Notodonta ziczac. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pebble Prominent (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pebble Prominent
What is Pebble Prominent?
Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pebble Prominent found?
Habitat: It frequents a range of habitats but has a preference for damper localities, where the caterpillars feed on Willow and Poplar.
When is Pebble Prominent active?
Pebble Prominent: seasonal activity - Appearing as an adult between May and August in either one or two broods depending on latitude..
What is the life cycle of a Pebble Prominent?
The caterpillar is greyish or brownish and, like most of the Prominents, feeds with the tail segment held up in the air.