![]() Today, you can find gypsy moths on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica.įemale gypsy moths lay their egg masses on tree trunks or sturdy shrubs. While mainly confined to the eastern United States, you can now find gypsy moths throughout much of North and South America. The spread to North America began in 1868 when a French scientist named Etienne Leopold Trouvelot imported some gypsy moths in the hopes of breeding them with native moths to make a hardier hybrid silk-spin caterpillar species. japonica originates from the island of Japan. asiatica is native to Eastern Asia, while L. dispar originally hails from temperate forests in western Europe as well as parts of Eurasia and North Africa. The native range of gypsy moths varies depending on the subspecies. ![]() Both males and females have an inverted V-shape on each wing pointing toward a dot. They possess creamish-white colored wings and a tan body. Females have a wingspan of approximately five centimeters (two inches) long and lack the feathery antennae of the males. The males measure slightly smaller than females, with an average wingspan of approximately 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches). They look predominantly gray-brown and sport feathery antennae. On average, female pupae measure slightly larger than males. The pupae appear dark brown and shell-like and measure approximately five centimeters (two inches) long. Unlike some caterpillars, these moths do not spin a silk cocoon, although the pupae may attach themselves to a nearby substrate using several strands of silk. Next comes the pupal stage, which lasts approximately 10 to 14 days. Gypsy moth caterpillars feature long brown hairs and five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of red dots along the back By the time the caterpillars fully mature, they measure approximately 6.35 centimeters (2.5 inches) long. The head appears black and tan, and a thin yellow line runs the length of their body. They feature long brown hairs and five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of red dots along the back. They look dark brown or black at birth and measure approximately 0.63 centimeters (0.25 inches) long. Over the course of their lives gypsy moths vary wildly in appearance. Lymantria dispar japonica – Japanese gypsy moth.Lymantria dispar asiatica – Asian gypsy moth.Lymantria dispar dispar – European gypsy moth.Only The Top 1% Can Ace our Animal Quizzes Think You Can? Take Our Brand New A-Z-Animals Insects Quiz The recognized subspecies of gypsy moth include: In recent years, the name spongy moth has begun to replace gypsy moth, which can be used as a pejorative toward Romani people. Taken together, these names reference both the gypsy moth’s destructive behavior and the fact that the males and females display traits of sexual dimorphism. Its generic name, Lymantria, derives from the Latin word for destroyer, while its species name translates as to separate in Latin. ![]() While the term gypsy refers to a sole species, Lymantria dispar, scientists recognize several different subspecies. ![]() Its subfamily, Lymantriinae, often goes by the name tussock moths due to the tussock-like hairs on the caterpillars. Gypsy Moth Species, Types, and Scientific NameĪlso known as the spongy moth, the gypsy moth belongs to the family Erebidae. Numerous methods have been employed to control gypsy moth populations, including parasitic and predatory insects, insecticides, and bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases.Female gypsy moths attach egg masses to trees and shrubs that can contain up to 600 eggs each.Although they prefer oaks, gypsy moths prey on over 500 different tree and shrub species.Gypsy moth larvae possess hairs with small air pockets that allow them to float on the breeze over great distances.The gypsy moth was first introduced in the United States in 1868 to breed a sturdier species of silk-spinning caterpillar.Every year, these moths destroy millions of acres of forests and cause billions of dollars in damages. While originally native to isolated regions of Europe and Asia, you can now find gypsy moths throughout the world.Their larvae feed on a wide variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, in some instances, severely damage a region’s biodiversity. One of the most invasive species in the world, the gypsy moth is a member of the moth family Erebidae.
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