Packard's Prominent
Common NamePackard's Prominent
Scientific NamePtilodon pacifica
FamilyNotodontidae
SubfamilyNotodontinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, gray, olive-green, black
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, and areas with host trees
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas
Host Plantsoak, birch, maple, beech
Flight PeriodMay to September (bivoltine in south, univoltine in north)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with pale stripes, feeding on the leaves of host trees. They pupate in a cocoon in leaf litter or soil, overwintering as a pupa.
Identification TipsLook for the overall cryptic brown, gray, and olive-green coloration, particularly the greenish tint on the thorax and base of the forewings. Like other prominents, it may have a small tuft on the inner margin of the forewing, though not always prominent in dorsal view.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled forewings displaying shades of brown, gray, and olive-green, featuring a cryptic pattern of darker spots and lines for camouflage.
