Family Geometridae : Larentiinae
Wingspan c 25 mm.22-28 mm.
Flight period Oct - Jan
Descripttion
Unlike most moths that are summer fliers the male Winter moth is on the wing Oct - Jan in Gardens , Scrubland and Orchards.
The Winter Moth can be a pest in orchards, Sitka spruce plantations and on heather moorlands
The caterpillar stage of the winter moth feeds on the leaves, blossoms and young fruitlets during the spring. The caterpillar weaves a silken thread loosely through the leaves and the small holes made at this stage often go unnoticed. As the leaves develop, the holes enlarge and become noticeable, but the caterpillar has done damage by that stage and has gone back down the tree into the soil to pupate into the fully grown winter moth - they will emerge from the soil anytime between November and March.Orchard control invloves tyining a large grease band around the trunk to stop the females ascending truns to mate
The larvae feed on a range of trees and shrubs, as well as moorland species such as heather (Calluna). Sometimes the larvae occur in great numbers, reaching pest status and occasionally completely Females are wingless and climb tree trucks so they may mate and lay eggs . Caterpillars transfer from tree to tree by wind on a silken thread. defoliating small trees.
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