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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Erebidae
930141 – 8318   Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)
             Spongy Moth

© Stephen Cresswell
Distribution: Introduced from Europe to Massachusetts in 1869 and first detected in BC in 1912 and California the 1976, L. dispar is now widespread in Eastern US and Canada and British Columbia to southern California.
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: Phalaena dispar Linnaeus, 1758
Lymantria andalusiaca Reinig, 1938
Lymantria asiatica Vnukowskij, 1926
Lymantria bocharae Goldschmidt, 1940
Lymantria chosensis Goldschmidt, 1940
Ocneria erebus Mieg, 1886
Lymantria hokkaidoensis Goldschmidt, 1940
Lymantria kolthoffi Bryk, [1948]
Lymantria koreibia Bryk, [1948]
Lymantria mediterraneae Goldschmidt, 1940
Lymantria praeterea Kardakoff, 1928
Taxonomic Notes: Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758): the common name "Gypsy Moth", long considered an ethnic slur for the Romani people of Europe, is replaced with "Spongy Moth" by the ESA Governing Board (2021).
References
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
  • ESA, 2021. Entomological Society of America Discontinues Use of Gypsy Moth, Ant Names. Entomological Society of America - website (retrieved 17 October 2023).
  • Ferguson, D. C., 1978. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 22.2: p. 90; pl. 1.9-12. order or free PDF
  • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 49.9m, 49.10f; p. 274. Book Review and ordering
  • Species Page at Block Island Moths
  • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
  • Species Page at Mass Moths
  • Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Lymantria dispar
© Bob Patterson
Lymantria dispar
© Tom Murray
Lymantria dispar
© Bob Moul
Lymantria dispar
ssp. japonica – © Christi Jaeger
Lymantria dispar
ssp. asiatica – © Christi Jaeger
Lymantria dispar
- 40mm – © Jim Vargo
Lymantria dispar
© Canadian National Collection LG

Lymantria dispar
© Canadian National Collection LG

Lymantria dispar
© Canadian National Collection LG

Lymantria dispar
© Chris Adam LG

Lymantria dispar
© Jason Dombroskie

Lymantria dispar
© Jason Dombroskie

Lymantria dispar
© Seth Ausubel LG

Lymantria dispar
© John G. Franclemont CUIC LG

Lymantria dispar
© Nolie Schneider

Lymantria dispar
© Nolie Schneider

Lymantria dispar
© Jason Dombroskie

Lymantria dispar
© Jason Dombroskie
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