Operophtera fagata (Scharfenberg, 1805) Species
Last modified: May 7, 2024, 5:37 p.m.
A rather scarce species in Belgium, mostly recorded in the southern part of the country.
This species is considered Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Geometridae > Subfamily: Larentiinae > Tribus: Operophterini > Genus: Operophtera > Species: Operophtera fagata
- Vernacular names
- Berkenwintervlinder (NL), Northern Winter Moth (EN), La Cheimatobie du Hêtre (FR), Buchen-Frostspanner (DE)
- Synonyms
- Operophtera boreata (Hübner, 1813)
- First mention in Belgium
- Fologne E. 1859a. Lépidoptères. Catalogue des Phalénidées. Deuxième partie. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 3: 107–132. On page 111.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan ♂ 32–40 mm., ♀ have short wings.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Bionomics
It hibernates as an egg. During frost, the males don't fly and just sit immobile on tree trunks. Males come to light, females are wingless.
No pictures yet!
Flight periods
The adults fly from the beginning of October till the end of December but mainly between mid-October and mid-November. The beginning and the end of the flight period changes from year to year and depends on the weather conditions.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Betula alba
- Substrates:
- Deciduous trees
The larva lives on Betula, Fagus or other deciduous trees.
No pictures yet!
