Editing Winter moth (section)

==Description==
[[Image:Operophtera_brumata_L._copulation.jpg|thumb|225px|Mating. Males prefer larger females (more eggs).]]
The forewing ground colour of the winged males varies from grey-yellow to beige-brown or occasionally slightly reddish-tinted. The patterns are often band-shaped dark brownish, often indistinct. The fringe is yellowish. The hindwings are pale grey or yellow grey. The antennae are short and finely hairy. The female appears completely wingless, but in fact female winter moths have greatly reduced wings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.northeastnursery.com/blogs/strategies-for-identifying-and-controlling-winter-moth|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.northeastnursery.com}}</ref> The flightless female has a brownish-grey body with rudimentary wing stubs that are brown to grey and have dark bands. Body length for both sexes is approximately {{convert|1|cm||abbr=on|sigfig=1}}.<ref name="Umass2">[http://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/winter-moth-identification-management Winter Moth Identification & Management] UMass Extension The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (2017) Accessed December 7, 2017.</ref> Larvae are {{convert|0.1|in|mm}} in length after hatching and will grow to {{convert|0.75|in|mm}} over a six-week period.<ref name="UnivMaine">[http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/2338/ The Relationship Between the Winter Moth (''Operophtera brumata'') and Its Host Plants] O'Donnell KM. University of Maine (2015)</ref> In North America, the winter moth can be confused with the related native species, the [[Operophtera bruceata|Bruce spanworm]] (''Operophtera bruceata''). In fact, the two species [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridize]].<ref name="Havill et al 2017">{{cite journal |last1=Havill |first1=N.P. |author-link1=Nathan Havill |last2=Elkinton |first2=J. |last3=Andersen |first3=J.C. |last4=Hagen |first4=S.B. |last5=Broadley |first5=H.J. |last6=Boettner |first6=G.J. |last7=Caccone |first7=A. |title=Asymmetric hybridization between non-native winter moth, ''Operophtera brumata'' (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), and native Bruce spanworm (''Operophtera bruceata''), in the Northeastern United States, assessed with novel microsatellites and SNPs. |journal=Bulletin of Entomological Research |date=2017 |volume=107 |issue=2 |pages=241–250 |title-link=Operophtera bruceata |doi=10.1017/S0007485316000857 |pmid=27876095 }}</ref>