Operophtera bruceata

Nearly all of the winter moths to be seen in November and December in the Greater Victoria area of Vancouver Island are the abundant European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata. Miles outside Victoria, however, in the surrounding countryside, the native North American Bruce’s Winter Moth Operophtera bruceata is to be found, out-numbering its European cousin. The two species are quite similar, but look for the black Y-shaped or H-shaped mark in the middle of the forewing of bruceata.