70.106 Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
fw: m13-16mm, f flightless with vestigial wings ; Oct-Jan; broad-leaved trees and shrubs; common throughout GB
ID: Epirrita species are usually greyer, average larger and have a more pointed forewing apex. Similar to O.fagata (Northern Winter Moth). In the male the best distinguishing feature is hindwing colour which is grey-brown in O.brumata and whitish in O.fagata; O.brumata tends to be darker and smaller, with a less silky texture than O.fagata. Females of O.brumata have vestigial black-banded wings; those of O.fagata have longer black-banded wings reaching half the abdominal length. There does not seem to be any good reason for the epithet "Northern" to be applied to O.fagata.
Male genitalia: The Operophterini have a paired centrally fused structure known as 'labides' (Pierce). Pierce distinguishes the labides as arising from the junction of the transtilla and costa (whereas the calcar of the xanthorhoini arises from the the annelus). The labides of Epirrita species have a centrally projected 'head' while that of Operophtera species shows no central projection looking more like a hood. The uncus of O.brumata has a rounded tip while that of O.fagata has a hard point.
Male genitalia: The Operophterini have a paired centrally fused structure known as 'labides' (Pierce). Pierce distinguishes the labides as arising from the junction of the transtilla and costa (whereas the calcar of the xanthorhoini arises from the the annelus). The labides of Epirrita species have a centrally projected 'head' while that of Operophtera species shows no central projection looking more like a hood. The uncus of O.brumata has a rounded tip while that of O.fagata has a hard point.
§1 Rayleigh, Essex; 23/12/2008; male
§2 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 18/11/2011; fw 14.4mm; male
§3 Dodd Wood, Cumbria; 10/11/2014; fw 14.2mm; male
§4 Foulness, Essex; 19/12/2015; male; fw 13.6mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 01/12/2018; female; fw 2.8mm; at light
§6 Pound Wood, Essex; 29/11/2020; on trunk of hornbeam pre-dawn, found in-copulo
§7 Pound Wood, Essex; 29/11/2020; on trunk of hornbeam pre-dawn, found in-copulo
§8 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 24/011/2021; male; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 18/11/2011; fw 14.4mm; male
§3 Dodd Wood, Cumbria; 10/11/2014; fw 14.2mm; male
§4 Foulness, Essex; 19/12/2015; male; fw 13.6mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 01/12/2018; female; fw 2.8mm; at light
§6 Pound Wood, Essex; 29/11/2020; on trunk of hornbeam pre-dawn, found in-copulo
§7 Pound Wood, Essex; 29/11/2020; on trunk of hornbeam pre-dawn, found in-copulo
§8 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 24/011/2021; male; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 30/06/2013 (§1-2) | §3 added 01/12/2014 | §4 added 06/04/2016 | §5 added 13/12/2018 | §6&7 added December 2020 |
§8 added 08/05/2022
§8 added 08/05/2022