Lymantria dispar dispar, commonly known as the gypsy moth, [1] European gypsy moth, LDD moth, or (in North America) North American gypsy moth or spongy moth, [2] is a species of …

The spongy moth, (Lymantria dispar), formerly known as the "gypsy moth," continues to spread throughout North America, threatening deciduous trees and impacting humans.

Jul 30, 2025 · Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) is a destructive, invasive insect that poses a danger to North America's forests. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of more than 300 …

Aug 29, 2025 · Spongy moths, the official common name for the insect previously known as gypsy moth, are defoliating insects that pose a significant threat to North American forests and trees. …

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 …

Spongy moths overwinter in the egg stage, and hatch in April or May. The young caterpillars are black and hairy, later becoming mottled gray with tufts of bristlelike hairs, and blue and red …

Aug 11, 2025 · The Gypsy Moth, now officially known as the Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar), belongs to the order Lepidoptera, which includes all moths and butterflies. It is a member of …

The spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth), Lymantria dispar, is the most important tree-defoliating insect in the eastern U.S. and is slowly expanding its range to include Missouri and Arkansas.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, was introduced into the US (Medford, MA) around 1869 by Etienne Leopold Trouvelot. Some larvae escaped and small outbreaks became evident in the …

LIFE HISTORY: There are four distinct stages to the development of the Gypsy moth – egg, larva, papa and adult (moth). The eggs are round, black and brown in color, and deposited in …