Photos

Winter moth - Opherophtera brumata
Family - Geometridae

A very common and abundant macro moth species found from North America where it is regarded as invasive introduction from Europe, through the UK where it can also be problematic, on to Europe and the near East, adult moths are seen in late Autumn through the winter to early spring.  Males are an indistinct grey to dark brown with a darker central forewing banding and a yellowish fringe, wingspan of 20–29mm (0.8–1.5in).  The females are similar but with almost no wings, having to crawl trees to get their mate.  Larvae are a bright green with feint white longitudinal striping to the sides and a tiny dark side spot per segment.  Seen on a wide range of tree and shrubs including Heather.  In some years they can attain large numbers completely defoliating and stressing smaller trees, several consecutive years of defoliation can lead to tree mortality.

Agassiz #70.106, Bradley & Fletcher #1799

Winter moth - Opherophtera brumata, click for a larger image
Photo ©2010– 		Winter moth - Opherophtera brumata, click for a larger image
Photo ©2010– 		Winter moth - Opherophtera brumata, click for a larger image, photo licensed for reuse ©2005 Entomart
Photo ©2005 Entomart
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