舞（毒）蛾

植保

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]