Porthetria dispar

Porthetria dispar
Gypsy moth Gyp"sy moth, or Gipsy moth Gip"sy moth . A tussock moth ({Lymantria dispar} or {Porthetria dispar} or {Ocneria dispar}) native of the Old World, but accidentally introduced into eastern Massachusetts about 1869, where its caterpillars have done great damage to fruit, shade, and forest trees of many kinds. The male gypsy moth is yellowish brown, the female white, and larger than the male. In both sexes the wings are marked by dark lines and a dark lunule. The caterpillars, when full-grown, have a grayish mottled appearance, with blue tubercles on the anterior and red tubercles on the posterior part of the body, all giving rise to long yellow and black hairs. They usually pupate in July and the moth appears in August. The eggs are laid on tree trunks, rocks, etc., and hatch in the spring.

Note: By 1980 the range of habitat had advanced as far south as New Jersey, and by 1995 significant populations were found as far west as the Mississippi valley. Initial population surges along the advancing front of the inhabited area cause great damage due to defoliation of trees by the caterpillars, but over time predators, disease and other natural controlling factors tend to reduce the populations to levels not so injurious to local foliage. Much money and effort has been expended trying to control, slow, or limit the spread of gypsy moths in the United States. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lymantria dispar — Bombyx disparate Bombyx disparate ou spongieuse …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lymantria dispar —   Polilla gitana macho adulto …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lymantria dispar — Schwammspinner Schwammspinner (Lymantria dispar) (Männchen) Systematik Klasse: Insekten (Insecta) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lymantria dispar — Gypsy moth Gyp sy moth, or Gipsy moth Gip sy moth . A tussock moth ({Lymantria dispar} or {Porthetria dispar} or {Ocneria dispar}) native of the Old World, but accidentally introduced into eastern Massachusetts about 1869, where its caterpillars… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ocneria dispar — Gypsy moth Gyp sy moth, or Gipsy moth Gip sy moth . A tussock moth ({Lymantria dispar} or {Porthetria dispar} or {Ocneria dispar}) native of the Old World, but accidentally introduced into eastern Massachusetts about 1869, where its caterpillars… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • disparlure — ˈdispärˌlu̇(ə)r noun Etymology: New Latin dispar (specific epithet of Porthetria dispar, the gypsy moth) + English lure : a pheromone C19H38O produced by female gypsy moths that has been made synthetically and used to attract males to traps …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bombyx disparate — ou spongieuse …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bombyx Disparate — ou spongieuse …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spongieuse — Bombyx disparate Bombyx disparate ou spongieuse …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gypsy moth — This article is about the insect. For other uses, see Gypsy moth (disambiguation). Gypsy Moth Mounted Male …   Wikipedia

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