Family Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)

A family of moths consisting of approximately 3,800 species, found in all parts of the world, but they are concentrated in the tropics.

Species of this family are usually heavy-bodied and long-winged, with wings held folded across the back of the body at rest. They are rarely bright in colour, usually dull with greys or browns.

The adults do not feed and have mouthparts that vary from well-developed to absent. Many species have a tuft of hair on the trailing edge of the forewing which protrudes upwards at rest, and this gives them their scientific name “back tooth” and the common name of prominents.