Some Islanders could have had a white Christmas.

Snow may or may not have fallen on Martha’s Vineyard on that holiday night; however, there still might be white forms in the air. Fluttering up as well as down, and to the sides, are the flying acrobatics of winter moths.

With their recent high densities, these invasive seasonal pests could be compared to a snowstorm. They are truly back with a vengeance. Winter moths seem to have become a perennial problem at this time of year, being active in November and December.

Some areas have been hit harder by this insect blizzard than others, and now you can take part in a survey to map locations of these insects across the state. Entomologists at UMASS are looking for some assistance. Take their survey at massnrc.org/pests/blog/2014/11/2014-winter-moth-survey.html to help them gather distribution information about this pest.

First, however, you will need some basic bug biology to both identify winter moths and answer the scientists’ questions. There is another later-emerging insect that can sometimes be confused with winter moths. Fall cankerworm also may be present and do resemble winter moths, but can be distinguished by a light patch on their distal front wing. It does take a good eye and an attention to detail to determine the differences.

The next bit of information you will need to ascertain is the sex of the winter moth. This is much easier than it sounds, and no, you won’t need a microscope.

Only male winter moths fly. The females are basically wingless, having diminutive wings that don’t allow flight. Thus, you will only see the gals on the ground, houses, trees, cars or other structures on which they can crawl. This time of year these femme fatales are racing up the trees and putting out pheromones to attract a flying suitor.

Female winter moths molest many types of trees and bushes. Find them on maples, oaks, apples, cherry trees and blueberry bushes, which are what their offspring will voraciously consume. Those coming caterpillars can cause significant damage to leaves and buds and can weaken their host plants over time. Your roses and perennials are not safe either, since winter moth caterpillars have been known to partake in those, too. Gluttony is not just for the holiday season, since those caterpillars will do their consuming mainly in the spring.

After the female has been mated, she can easily lay 150 eggs before she dies. Tiny green eggs will turn pinkish orange just before they hatch in the early spring, making them easier to see come March and April. But by then it is too late.

The caterpillars that emerge in the spring are the most bothersome, defoliating everything in their path and swinging around on silk strands that create a web for those walking in the woods. In some of the most infected areas, the sound of their falling frass (droppings) can be heard.

After they have eaten their fill, the caterpillars will drop to the soil and pupate in a cocoon to start the cycle anew.

The deluge of these fluttery creatures is a recent phenomenon. Hailing from Europe, winter moths came to this continent via Nova Scotia in the 1930s. It wasn’t until 1991 that they came to Massachusetts, but they have made much progress in population domination since then.

So be wary of what you wish for. I am all for a white Christmas, but only if it is those fabulous flakes and not the meddlesome moths that come to decorate (not decimate) the foliage.

Suzan Bellincampi is director of the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown, and author of Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature.