| Wasilla seems to be having an outbreak of these lacy little creatures. The adults usually have a white spear-shaped marking on the wings. (The photo above is the underside of the moth, taken through a window.) These moths are regarded as a serious defoliator of paper birch trees. Epidemic populations occur at 15- to 17-year intervals, last about 2 years, and then crash. Adult moths are about 0.35 to 0.45 inch in length, with a wingspread of one inch. Juncos, redpolls, and chickadees eat large numbers of these moths. Bon appetit, birds! |
