Winter Moth vs Summer Fruit Tortrix

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Winter Moth Summer Fruit Tortrix
Scientific Name Operophtera brumata Adoxophyes orana
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Geometridae Tortricidae
Size 25-30 mm wingspan (males) 18-22 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Orchards
Diet Herbivores Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, Eastern North America Europe, East Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Winter Moth

A cold-hardy moth whose tiny green inchworm caterpillars defoliate fruit and shade trees in early spring. Females are virtually wingless and crawl up tree trunks to lay eggs.

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Did You Know?

Sticky bands wrapped around tree trunks in autumn can trap the wingless females and prevent egg-laying.

Summer Fruit Tortrix

A small yellowish-brown moth with darker V-shaped markings on the forewings. It is a significant fruit pest throughout Europe and East Asia.

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Did You Know?

It was one of the first insects to be controlled using synthetic pheromone mating disruption.