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They are another import that has been left to "go forth and multiply" unchecked.
They are a unique insect that can survive in freezing temps, mate at night and will most definitely be back 100x in the spring as those annoying little green caterpillars us see hanging from every tree.
They will do considerable damage to all new growth this comong spring, and since they cannot be completely irradicated, they are here to stay (like the gypsy moths and the red lily leaf bettles).
Since they mate in late fall, there aren't any predators to eat them, and since they do it at night, even the birds are able to benefit from a free meal.
Here's a neat winter moth fact: The ones you see fluttering around are all males. The females don't have wings. They will crawl up on wall, trees, fences etc. and wait for the males to come to them.
Your best bet would be to begin spraying for them when the bushes/trees begin to put out new growth in the spring.
The common wisdom says using a horticulteral oil mix is best, but I may try my own homemade bug spray: chewing tabacco juice and anti-bacterial soap mixed in a hand sprayer.
Soak the tobacco in a quart of water, add 1-2 tbls. of soap and mix.
put in sprayer and hit the plants. I would suggest using a mask/filter if you use a fine spray since this stuff is nasty both to you and the bugs. (If you have ever chewed tobacco, or know someone that had, ask what happens when you swallow tobacco juice!)
I would also keep the kids and pets indoors while spraying, just to be safe, because the main ingredient in this mix is nicotene. This stuff is basically a cancer causing poison.
I suggest doing this early in the spring, because you will ruin any fruit and veggies that get sprayed because it will be absorbed into the fruit of the plants.
Best of luck with this blasted moths.
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