Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriinae
Identification: Sexually dimorphic: female much larger and lighter in color. Forewing brown with yellowish overlay in male. Hindwing yellowish to reddish brown. Reniform spot consists of three black spots (usually merged) in both sexes; black orbicular dot also present. Wings whitish in female, with deeply scalloped gray lines and black spots. Terminal line a series of black dots on forewing and hindwing.
Wing Span: 3-4 cm in males; 5.6-6.7 cm in females.
Life History: Larvae can defoliate large tracts of forests in peak years. In woods where larvae are numerous, you can actually hear them feeding.
Flight:
Caterpillar Hosts: Oaks are preferred. Also alder, apple, basswood, birches, box elder, hawthorn, hazelnut, larch, mountain-ash, poplars, rose bushes, sumac, willows, and witch-hazel.
Adult Food:
Habitat: Forests.
Range: Deliberately introduced from Europe at Medford, Massachusetts in 1868 or 1869 by Leopold Trouvelot, who hoped to raise this moth for silk production. Now, established from Nova Scotia to North Carolina and Florida, west to Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri. Range is expanding.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Taxonomy Notes: Formerly referred to by a derogatory common name of "gypsy moth," which was removed from the Entomological Society of America's Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List in July 2021.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 600 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 11, 2024
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Sep 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Victoire Batiste
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Victoire Batiste
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: Jim Lowe
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: getherington
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: Desibronk
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: Desibronk
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 18, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 29, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Morgan County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 26, 2024
Observation date: May 21, 2024
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
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