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A serious threat to trees and shrubs in North America, the gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar) is an insatiable eater–one fully grown caterpillar can eat up to a square foot of tree leaves in just one day.
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), also known as the spongy moth, was introduced in 1868 into the United States by Étienne Léopold Trouvelot, a French scientist living in Medford, Massachusetts. Because native silk-spinning caterpillars were susceptible to disease, Trouvelot imported the species in order to breed a more resistant hybrid species.
Lymantria dispar dispar, commonly known as the gypsy moth, European gypsy moth, LDD moth, or (in North America) North American gypsy moth or spongy moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It has a native range that extends over Europe and parts of Africa, and is an invasive species in North America.
Spongy moths (formerly gypsy moths) are a major pest of hardwood trees and control is often necessary to prevent damage in backyards and many urban areas.
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The spongy moth, (Lymantria dispar), formerly known as the "gypsy moth," continues to spread throughout North America, threatening deciduous trees and impacting humans. This non-native, foliage-feeding insect currently occupies only about one-third of its possible host distribution in the United States.
Aug 10, 2021 · During an outbreak, gypsy moth caterpillars can be serious tree defoliators. Learn about these fuzzy pests and how to deal with them at Gardener’s Path.
The Gypsy Moth, now referred to as the Spongy Moth, is a notable invasive species in the United States. These pests are known for their voracious appetite for trees and shrubs, causing extensive damage to forests and landscapes.
Lymantria dispar, also known as the gypsy moth or the spongy moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae native to Europe and Asia. Lymantria dispar is subdivided into several subspecies, with subspecies such as L. d. dispar and L. d. japonica being clearly identifiable without ambiguity.
The gypsy moth life cycle has four stages: egg, larvae, pupa and adult moth. Eggs of the North American strain are laid on the bark of trees (Figure 2), female moths lay egg clusters in virtually any sheltered location including homes, vehicles, firewood, and on outdoor items.
The gypsy moth is established in the entire northeastern U.S. The European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) is a non-native insect that was accidentally introduced to North America in 1869 when it escaped cultiva-tion by a French amateur entomologist living near Boston, MA.
