What distinct flight capability difference exists between male and female Winter Moths?
Answer
Males are capable of flying, while females possess only rudimentary wings and are functionally flightless.
The Winter Moth exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism regarding locomotion. Male *Operophtera brumata* are fully capable of flight, which is essential for their role in locating mates during their late autumn/early winter mating season. In stark contrast, the females are characterized as functionally flightless; they retain only rudimentary wings. This difference fundamentally shapes the evolutionary pressures acting on each sex: males must optimize mate location, while females must focus on securing a suitable place for oviposition given their immobility.
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