Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001759
11/12/99
Gypsy Moth
The insect overwinters as an egg (Vis. 1) which hatches in
the spring about the time amelanchier trees blossom. The
larvae (Vis. 2) move up the tree then suspend themselves
from a thread that allows them to be carried by the wind to
other trees. The larvae feed for about 7 weeks then pupate
in a sheltered place. The moths emerge in mid-summer. The
females do not fly but give off a chemical that attracts
males that can fly. After mating the female lays eggs and
the adults die without feeding.
The young larvae are dark colored and hairy. The older
larvae can be 2 1/2 inches long, dark colored with faint
white stripes running the length of the body. There will
be a series of blue or red spots at the base of tufts of
hair. The adult moths are quite different in appearance.
The female is white with tan stripes across the wings and
small V shaped brown marking. The male is mottled brown.
The insects injure plants by eating the leaves. The
preferred hosts are apple, linden or basswood, hawthorn,
oaks, poplar and willow. Plants rarely attacked are ash,
balsam fir, butternut, black walnut, catalpa, red cedar,
dogwood, holly, locust, sycamore and yellow poplar.
Control is difficult since the insects are so numerous.
The insects are often spread when egg masses are laid on
cars or trucks and then carried some distance. Spraying
may protect individual plants but it will have to be done
each year. Repeated defoliation will kill the favored
hosts.
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to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
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a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our
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