Have you seen moths flying around during late fall or early winter, or have you seen moths gathered at your porchlight? You could be seeing an invasive species known as winter moth.
Winter moth caterpillars are highly efficient tree defoliators, often stripping the leaves of oaks, maples and other hardwood trees down to lacy skeletons. In mid-to-late fall, at a time of year where insect activity is practically at a standstill, these small brown winter moths will be seen across the eastern half of the state, sometimes congregating at porch lights by the hundreds.