Winter Moth

The Winter moth is a broad, pale brown moth and is one of the few species that can be seen on the wing in winter. They fly at night and are attracted to lights, you will often see them fluttering in the light beams from car headlights, though you can also find almost anywhere, resting on tree trunks, in shrubs or on the outside of your window.

The female winter moth is dark grey, has stubby wings and cannot fly, instead they clamber up tree trunks and give off pheromones to attract flying males. Their eggs are laid on the bark and don’t hatch until spring, when the tiny green caterpillars emerge. You might see them hanging down from trees on long threads of silk, this allows them to drift from one tree to the next.

Males are broad with a rounded, almost triangular shape. They're pale brown or greyish, with a darker band across the centre of the forewing.

December Moth
 

Unsurprisingly, December moths are one of the few species you’re likely to encounter in December and throughout the winter, adults first take to the wing in October. Females lay eggs on a variety of deciduous trees, including oaks, birches and hawthorns. They feed at night, spending the day resting. December moths can be found in woodland, hedgerows, scrub, parks and sometimes gardens.

December moths are dark in colour, with a fluffy dark brown body. The wings are charcoal coloured, with two creamy white lines across them. Males are smaller than females and have feathery antennae.

Herald Moth
 

Herald moths are one of the few moths that spend the winter as an adult. They take to the wing in late summer, then in autumn seek out a cool, dark, sheltered spot. They'll cling to a wall or ceiling all winter, before emerging to feed again in spring. Several heralds can often be found sheltering together.

They are a distinctively shaped moth with broad wings that end in hooked tips, the Herald moth has heavily scalloped outer edges. The wings are brown with pink or purplish hues, and orange blotches near the base. There is a white line running across the wings and white lines run along the length of the wings, like veins on a leaf.