Operophtera fagata, the northern winter moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is widespread through much of Europe.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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This species’ range extends through central and northern Europe to southeast Russia. It is widespread in the UK and Northern Ireland.
In Europe, this species prefers common beech woodland, but will also use birch. The larvae feed on apple (Malus), plum, cherry (Prunus), birch (Betula), lime (Tilia), beech (Fagus).
From mid-May until early June, mature larvae fall from trees to the woodland floor to pupate in the soil. They remain there until October and November when adults emerge to reproduce. Wingless females crawl up tree trunks, while males fly in swarms at night to encounter females to mate with. Females lay eggs on twigs close to leaf buds in November, where they overwinter. In the UK, adults are active October - December. The larvae hatch April – May, which in Europe happens at the same time as birch leaves come out.
