Invasive gypsy moth
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Moth, Gypsy |
| Scientific name | Lymantria dispar |
| Taxonomic group | Lymantriidae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Human impacts | Invasive species |
| Change over time | Life cycles |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Insects |
| Conservation | Invasive species |
| Lessons | Invasive species |
| Date | July 19, 2004 |
| Location | Newton,Massachusetts,USA,North America |
Gypsy Moth female, laying eggs, Massachusetts. The notorious gypsy moth was imported to the US in 1869 by an amateur entomologist who hoped to establish a silk industry. The experiment failed, the caterpillars got loose, and so began a century-plus war against these pillaging invasives. The caterpillars eat a wide variety of tree leaves including those of oaks, birches, and willows. During really bad outbreaks, such as in 1981, they can denude entire forests so that in June they look as leafless as in a typical November. They continue to spread through the northeast US at about 10-15 miles (15-20 km) per year.
