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 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]