2023 December 24

Today, a good comparison  between a European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (photographed by Jochen Möhr in Metchosin) and a Western Winter Moth O. occidentalis (photographed by Val George at the Goldstream nature house).   O. brumata is quite variable, some specimens having almost no pattern, while others, like Jochen’s shown here, have a well-marked pattern.    The feature that identifies Val’s as occidentalis is the broad dark streak running from near the discal spot to the mid-point of the outer margin.

Operophtera brumata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Operophtera occidentalis  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George