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Welcome to Daves Moth and Butterfly World -
Species Name: Northern Winter Moth

Welcome to Dave McCormick's Moth and Butterfly World. Here is information on the Brimstone Moth (Operophtera fagata). Hear Scientific Name Sound

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Information

The Northern Winter Moth (Operophtera fagata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in the UK and Europe.

In England this moth is locally frequent throughout the country, except in the south-west. In recent years it has become less numerous and more local. It is widely scattered in Wales and in mainland Scotland and on the inner Hebrides this moth is local and rare on Isle of Man.

In Ireland this moth is rare, being unknown for a long time here. Early authors contested its existence. It is known from just five counties which include Down and Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. Baynes considered it doubtful as he never seen an Irish specimen and then the general opinion that the species was unconfirmed.

A discovery at Monmurry Bog in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on 4th November 2000 suggests that earlier records were right and this species was found before. In the same year it was found in the nearby White Park, also in Co Fermanagh. It has now been regularly recorded at Monmurry since the first discovery of this moth there. In 2001, this moth was recoded in Rehaghy Mountain, Co Tyrone and in Crilly, Co Tyrone it was discovered in 2002.

On 6th December 2009 a new record of this moth was confirmed at Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland. I trapped one using a heath trap. (See images below under "Adult Images"). No other sites in Ireland are known so far.

This moth is found in woodland, heathland, scrub, gardens and orchards. It can sometimes be found by searching its known foodplants.

Flight Period

The Northern Winter Moth is found from October to December, with peak records being in November. It does not fly as late as the Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) which flies until January and February.

In Ireland this moth is found from October to December. It is currently found in Northern Ireland and is not yet known to exist anywhere else in Ireland.

This table has information on the flight period of the Northern Winter Moth. The flight period represents an area as a whole based on overall records of flight times. This may vary in areas within the locations mentioned.

The shaded cells in orange, indicate what months the moth is found as an adult. Half coloured cells indicate the first or second half of a month when the moth flies.

N Ireland is Northern Ireland and S Ireland is South of Ireland and W Ireland is West of Ireland (Any part of Ireland not included in Northern Ireland).

Area

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec
Europe

Scotland

England

Wales

N Ireland

S Ireland

W Ireland

Similar Species

Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata), November Moth (Epirrita dilutata), Pale November Moth (Epirrita christyi)

Known Aberrations

To be completed

Adult Images

The wingspan of this moth is between 32-40 mm in Male and Female has little stubs for wings. This species is sometimes confused with Winter moth (Operophtera brumata), but this moth is paler in size with a more silky appearance. The wings of the male of this moth are more tapered and the hindwings are whitish.

The females wings are short, reaching half the length of her abdomen and forewing is black banded.

This moth also resembles the November Moth (Epirrita dilutata) and Pale November Moth (Epirrita christyi) , but they are usually larger than this moth.

Adult Images
Image Link Date Taken  Taken By Image Size
Northern Winter Moth

Information  

Location: Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

This was found beside my 6 Watt Heath Trap. It has never been seen here before, but probably just went unnoticed. It is a rare moth in UIreland, just being found from a few locations, probably once again, just unrecorded. This was taken with my Canon 500D and Sigma 105mm Macro Lens. Taken on 05/12/2009.

 		 05/12/2009 David McCormick Dimensions: 800x600
File Size: 433KB

Mating Images

None

Caterpillar Images

The caterpillars are green with a dark head and white stripes along its body. If many found in large enough numbers, they can defoliate small trees entirely. They feed on Birch, Apple, Beech, Plum and Cherry.

Pupae Images

None

Forms Pages

None

Subspecies Pages

None

Aberrations

None

Videos Pages

None

References

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3929 - Northern Winter Moth - (c) 2009, Ian Kimbler

The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland - (c) 2006, Robert Thompson, Brian Nelson

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Revised edition) - Paul Waring and Martin Townsend (c) 2003, 2009 

Page last edited: 06/12/2009 19:28

(c) David McCormick 2009