You don’t see many insects in winter. It’s too cold for a lot of them to venture out and brave the elements. They tuck themselves away, entering a hibernation-like state called diapause until spring arrives. But some moths have mastered the winter months. Whilst we’re warming up indoors on a cold winter night, these nocturnal nomads are fluttering through the frosty air. Let’s meet some of the moths of winter! 

The clue’s in the name 

If you had to guess the best time of year to see a winter moth, the odds are you’d get it right. Compared to some of the incredibly titled moths like the scarlet tiger or the sorcerer, it’s not the most imaginative name. But it is evocative. It conjures up cold weather, dark and stormy nights and the toughness of a tiny insect that can brave them. Most importantly, it’s an accurate description – the winter moth flies in winter. 

Adult winter moths can be seen on the wing from October through to January – or at least, the males can. Females have short, stubby wings and are completely flightless. They climb up tree trunks, releasing pheromones to attract males as they fly around the neighbourhood. Males are also attracted to lights. If you’ve spotted moths in your car headlights this winter, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a winter moth.  

December delights 

Early riser 

The pale brindled beauty is one of the first moths to appear each year. They spend the start of winter underground, as a pupa in a protective cocoon. Later in the season, the adults emerge. They can usually be seen from January to March, though they are sometimes recorded in December. As with winter moths, female pale brindled beauties are flightless, using pheromones to attract a mate. Male pale brindled beauties can range from being greyish-green to black.  

Stars of the night sky 

Winter is a great time for stargazing. Long dark nights are perfect for spying constellations, planets and even the odd satellite. But you can also find a satellite much closer to home. This one’s around 2cm long, has four wings and a taste for fermenting berries. 

The satellite moth is named for the markings on its wings. Each rich brown forewing has a pale kidney-shaped mark, with a much smaller dot on either side of it. Like two little satellites orbiting the kidney mark. Satellites aren’t just for winter – they can be seen flying on mild nights from September right through until April. They’re attracted to lights, but even more attracted to sugar. They like to feed on ivy flowers and fermenting berries.  

These are just a few of the moths you can find in the winter months, with more and more becoming active as spring draws closer. There are around 2,500 species of moth in the UK, so there’s always a new one to discover!