What is the state of the wings on the functionally flightless female *Operophtera brumata*?
Answer
Possessing only rudimentary wings.
The description of sexual dimorphism in the Winter Moth includes a specific note regarding the morphology of the female. Unlike the males, who are adept flyers necessary for mate location, the females are classified as functionally flightless. This functional incapacity is linked directly to their wing structure; they do not possess full wings suitable for sustained flight but instead only have rudimentary wings remaining. This anatomical constraint dictates that females must wait for males to find them and limits their ability to disperse or escape immediate environmental hazards, reinforcing the need for timely mating after emergence.
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