Cold weather butterflies
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Winter moth
| Winter moth |
Harilik külmavaksik
|
Operophtera brumata |
Night-living moths with a fragile and modest exterior; they can be seen beginning to fly around in September, and can be observed even after night frosts in November . Often seen when the weather is good.
The wings of the winter moth are brownish grey, delicately banded. The females have degenerated wings – which sex is it in Arne’s photo? They can be encountered everywhere – in parks, gardens, shrubs. The caterpillars damage fruit tree leaves in spring.
The northern winter moth (Operophtera fagata) occurs in forests and in birch tree stands; its caterpillars do damage to birch leaves.
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