Page 570 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Southern Canada and eastern United States, with occasional
outbreaks in the west; also Europe, North Africa, and Asia
HABITAT Temperate forests
HOST PLANTS More than 500 coniferous and broadleaved tree species, including
oak (Quercus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), and birch (Betula spp.)

NOTE Widely distributed pest caterpillar that can in ict signi cant
economic damage
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread and pestiferous

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¼–2 ⁄ in (32–62 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2¾ in (50–70 mm)
LYMANTRIA DISPAR
GYPSY MOTH
568
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

The Gypsy Moth ies in late summer, with each female laying as
many as 1,000 eggs on tree trunks, branches, and even vehicles.
The eggs overwinter and hatch in early May. The young
caterpillars climb to the canopy of host trees, where they stay,
feeding gregariously during the day. Early instars nibble holes
in leaves, while later instars consume entire leaves. The mature
fth or sixth instar caterpillars crawl down the trunk by day and

rest under bark, returning to the canopy at night to feed. They

pupate in imsy silken cocoons on the same tree, under bark or
in crevices. The moths eclose after about two weeks.
The Gypsy Moth caterpillar is covered in
urticating hairs. The body is colorful, with two Two distinct strains of the species, Asian and European, have
rows of ve blue and two rows of six red spots,

each spot bearing a tuft of yellow-brown hairs. been identi ed, both virtually identical in appearance and both
The head is yellow and black. The legs are red.
capable of causing equally extensive damage. The pattern of
outbreak alternates between one or two years of light infestation
with little visible damage, followed by up to four years when
the trees experience moderate to severe defoliation, leading to
a population collapse.

Actual size