processionary moths, Thaumetopoeinae. They feed on trees and shrubs, except in the subfamily Dioptinae, which feed on herbaceous plants (Miller, 1992). The larvae typically feed on only one family of trees, but closely related species will feed on distantly related plants; for example different members of the genus Datana feed on Juglandaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Ericaceae and Anacardiaceae (Miller 1992). Adults Adults have tympanal organs on the metathorax that opens towards the top, and the tibial spurs have serrated edges (Scoble, 1995). Mouthparts vary from well-developed to absent. The Dioptinae, which was formerly considered a separate family, are colourful and fly by day, while the rest of the notodontids are nocturnal. Some of these Dioptinae have non-functional tympanal hearing organs which are normally defensive against bats (Fullard et al., 1997). Importance Some notodontids cause noticeable defoliation of their hosts. Well-known defoliators include: the saddled prominent (Heterocampa guttivita), poplar defoliator (Clostera cupreata), California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), the beech caterpillar, (Quadricalcarifera punctatella), variable oakleaf caterpillar (Lochmaeus manteo), Epicerura pergisea, yellownecked caterpillars (Datana ministra), and walnut caterpillar (Datana integerrima), among others. Systematics Formerly, the genus Oenosandra was placed in this family and the subfamily Thaumetopoeinae was treated at independent family rank, however they were now been reclassified. Notable species are: Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) Puss moth (Cerura vinula) Lobster moth (Stauropus fagi) Poplar kitten (Furcula bifida) Coxcomb prominent (Ptilodon capucina) Rough prominent (Nadata gibbosa) Some subfamily genera: Dudusinae Crinodes Dudusa Hemiceratinae Hemiceras Dicranurinae Parasinga Heterocampinae Rifargia Apart from the subfamilies listed in the two places above, there are numerous notodontid genera of uncertain relationships. These are: See also Comparison of butterflies and moths Ochrogaster, a genus of Australian processionary caterpillar References Attygalle, AB, S. Smedley, J. Meinwald and T. Eisner. 1993. Defensive secretion of 2 notodontid caterpillars. J. Chem Ecol 19(10):2089-2104. Blum, M.S. 1981. Chemical Defenses of Arthropods. Academic Press, New York. Chinery, Michael. 1991. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991) Fullard, James, Jeff W. Dawson, L. Daniel Otero, Annemarie Surlykke. 1997. Bat-deafness in day-flying moths (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae, Dioptinae). Journal of Comparative Physiology A 181(5): 477-483 Grimaldi, D, and MS Engel, 2005. Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. Miller, James. 1992. Host-plant association among prominent moths. BioScience 42 (1): 50-56. Scoble, MJ. 1995. The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Second ed. Oxford University Press. Skinner, Bernard. 1984. Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles Weller, SJ.