Moth Photographers Group – Lymantria dispar

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Erebidae

930141.00 – 8318 Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)

Spongy Moth

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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: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
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