Gypsy moth

Gypsy moth
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:

  • gypsy moth — n. a European moth (Lymantria dispar), brownish (males) or whitish (females), now common in the E U.S.: its larvae feed on leaves, doing much damage to forest and shade trees …   English World dictionary

  • gypsy moth — см. Приложение 1 (Lymantria dispar). (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • gypsy moth — gypsy moth. См. непарный шелкопряд. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

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

  • gypsy moth — a moth, Porthetria dispar, introduced into the U.S. from Europe, the larvae of which feed on the foliage of shade and other trees. [1810 20] * * * Species (Lymantria dispar) of tussock moth, a serious pest of trees. The European strain was… …   Universalium

  • Gypsy moth Republican — A Gypsy moth Republican, informally, is a politically pejorative term used by conservative Republicans to describe a moderate Republican serving in the U.S. House of Representatives who happens to represent a northeastern or midwestern urban area …   Wikipedia

  • Gypsy moth (disambiguation) — The term gypsy moth originally means the moth Lymantria dispar . It may also refer to:Gypsy Moth: *Gypsy moth Republican, an American politically pejorative term *Skein (comics), a Marvel Comics character formerly known as Gypsy MothGipsy Moth:… …   Wikipedia

  • gypsy moth — noun European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade trees • Syn: ↑gipsy moth, ↑Lymantria dispar • Hypernyms: ↑lymantriid, ↑tussock moth • Member Holonyms: ↑Lymantria, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • gypsy moth — /ˈdʒɪpsi mɒθ/ (say jipsee moth) noun 1. a moth, Lymantria dispar, whose caterpillar is destructive to trees. 2. (upper case) a type of biplane. Also, gipsy moth …  

  • gypsy moth — gyp′sy moth n. ent a moth, Porthetria dispar, introduced into the U.S. from Europe, the larvae of which feed on the foliage of trees …   From formal English to slang

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