gypsy moths
Leaf-stripping pests
Gypsy moths are destructive insects whose caterpillars defoliate hardwood trees, especially oaks.
Native to Europe and Asia, they became a serious pest in North America after an accidental release in Massachusetts in 1869.
The name comes from their tendency to spread rapidly across regions.
Also called spongy moths, a recent renaming that avoids the ethnic slur.
- mothsNocturnal lepidopterans
- infestationPest takeover situation
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- pupaInsect's resting stage
- moltShed outer covering
caterpillar · frass · pesticide · Lepidoptera · defoliation · pests · mating · oak trees · deciduous trees · egg · invasive species · diapause · hatching · larval stage · leaf · leaf litter · species · North America
ecological role
gypsy mothshoneybees
Colonial insects producing wax
bumblebees · beneficial insects · pollinators · monarch butterflies · ladybugs