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Spongy Moth  

(formerly known as Gypsy Moth) 

Lymantria dispar disparSpongy moth caccoon.jpg

"The Entomological Society of America today announced a new common name for the Lymantria dispar moth. The invasive moth most familiar in its voracious, leaf-eating caterpillar stage will now be known as "spongy moth."
The Spongy Moth (formerly the Gypsy Moth) was accidentally introduced into Massachusetts in 1869 by a French scientist trying to find a disease-resistant caterpillar to increase the output of silk. Since first being detected in Pennsylvania in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties in 1932, the spongy moth has wreaked havoc on Pennsylvania’s forests, killing millions of oak trees along the way. The spongy moth is now one of the most destructive insects in the eastern United States. It is one of many foliage-eating pests that cause an estimated $868 million in annual damages in the United States.


Spongy Moth Spray Status Map 

Please visit the PGC Spongy Moth Spray Status Map to see current spray areas.


 

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