Operophtera brumata - Female and male

- No description given -

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

This is really awesome. If I'm not mistaken, I've seen these in a series of insect documentaries, where they were described for their unique ability to withstand winter cold. An extreme adaptation to conditions.

I remember making the mental note in hoping to ever see it, and you just casually post it here like it's no big deal. It will not go unnoticed, Arp, it's awesome! Posted 5 years ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  Hi Ferdy, the males of both our "wintervlinders" are very, very ubiquitous this time of year - you will find them on just about every wall, window or tree if you go looking, but it's the time of year that few people go looking for insects anymore. The females I have rarely seen myself, which is also probably due to the same "observator effect". Last week, I went looking for females one night on all the oak trees at Den Alerdinck and didn't find a single female, but easily over a hundred males. The next day, while at work, I spotted the female Erannis defoliaria on the wall (the one you commented on). The same night Jeanette found dozens of female Operophtera brumata on the trees in her garden, so when I visited her a day later we went looking again and they were still abundant and we even found two female Erannis defoliaria too. Today, two days later, they're all but gone. Maybe it's just the weather, or maybe they have all just emerged, found a mate and traveled up into the trees now to deposit their eggs all in the course of a few days?!? Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    It's remarkable that you find them so easily right now, did not know that. But apparently it can even be seen as the depth of winter, at the very coldest time. Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Pudding4brains
      
      Lion
      
      Here is an article on Nature Today:
      https://www.naturetoday.com/intl/nl/nature-reports/message/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_campaign=user-mailing&msg=25667 Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Very nice, had no idea they were so numerous. Posted 5 years ago

The Winter moth

The winter moth is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is an abundant species of Europe and the Near East and one of very few Lepidoptera of temperate regions in which the adults are active in the depth of winter. The female of this species is virtually wingless and cannot fly, but the male is fully winged and flies strongly.

Info 20 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Pudding4brains