The female March Moth is completely wingless.
Some moths have developed extraordinary strategies as a result of climatic challenges during early spring. Cold weather and absence of food forces the moths to spend their energy resources with concern. To cope with these obstacles females in some species produce only vestigial wings. Instead they allocate these resources to egg production. These females does not look very much like moths, but when studying them at close range, you'll see the lepidoptera-scales covering the animal.
During dark spring evenings females come out from their day-hides in between leaves on the ground, behind bark etc., and climb the tree-trunks. Then they release feromones to attract the flying males. Several males can be attracted to a single female.
During dark spring evenings females come out from their day-hides in between leaves on the ground, behind bark etc., and climb the tree-trunks. Then they release feromones to attract the flying males. Several males can be attracted to a single female.
The hairy abdomen of a March Moth.
The picture to the right show the abdomen of a female March Moth (vintermåler) Alsophila aescularia photographed on the foundation wall of my house in Bergen, western Norway 3 March 2011. In this species the female has no wings at all. This feature, combined with the hairy abdomen, distinguishes it from other flightless female moths. The imago March Moth is active during March and April, lay their eggs and die. During the spring and summer a small green larvae will hatch, feed (on common species such as Birch and Hazel) and grow, and in proper time before winter it will pupate and hibernate as such during the winter. One of the most stunning moths in the Norwegian fauna! This strategy can be found in several spring-species, but is even more common in species active as imagos during the autumn.
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