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Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars Even the conifers were defoliated.<br /> <br /> I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html" title="Northwest Highlands - Connecticut, USA"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/67448_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=RtF8fr%2FpCOSvoXCJk5xQxdlVels%3D" width="116" height="152" alt="Northwest Highlands - Connecticut, USA This is a typical forest scene from the Northwest Highlands of Connecticut. Located in the northwest corner of the state, it is part of the Berkshires and is known for its very rocky, hilly terrain and cooler temperatures. It is a heavily forested area (75%) with mesic forests that are dominated by hardwood and conifers. Common trees in the area include: oak, white and red pine, hickory, ash, maple, birch, and eastern hemlock...among others. There is also a variety of fauna - black bears, deer, coyotes, red fox, hare, raccoons, bobcats, porcupines, otters, fishers, beavers, wild turkeys, ducks, owls, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plenty of passerine birds! Fall,Geotagged,Northwest Highlands,United States,berkshires,connecticut" /></a></figure><br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html" title="Female Gypsy Moths - Lymantria dispar"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/108637_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=FYzhql%2BAMILaYub%2FUIvBUFlzNkk%3D" width="122" height="152" alt="Female Gypsy Moths - Lymantria dispar I found hundreds of dead, female gypsy moths in this forest. Most were on the ground (at the base of trees), but some died on the trees right after depositing their egg masses on the bark. And, of course, I found lots of egg masses on the trees, many of which I scraped off as we are recommended to do because we have had heavy infestations in recent years that have caused massive defoliation.<br /> <br /> For more info on a recent, particularly bad infestation: https://www.jungledragon.com/image/57133/gypsy_moth_females_with_eggs.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed forest <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108640/gypsy_moth_eggs_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108639/female_gypsy_moth_dead_on_her_eggs_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108638/female_gypsy_moth_-_lymantria_dispar.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria,Lymantria dispar,Summer,United States,moth" /></a></figure><br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116812_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=MBwmSNlUQ92wHamO8JEjUbrgrac%3D" width="200" height="160" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,larva" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar Damage"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116819_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=qwjDJPYcs1tObLEgk9116rVduYw%3D" width="200" height="148" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar Damage I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,caterpillar damage,gypsy moth" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116818_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=i3K0qBPx%2Fxp4FiBKvTqq%2FSVNLyU%3D" width="136" height="152" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires.<br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,larva" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116817_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=YhugYHM%2FrViCLgiIn%2BxtC9RXaK8%3D" width="200" height="118" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires.<br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html" title="Trees Defoliated by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars (Lymantria dispar)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116816_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=cLTYwCKwtLZRDbFBc8qEJkRwZJc%3D" width="108" height="152" alt="Trees Defoliated by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars (Lymantria dispar) The leaves are gone.<br /> <br /> I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,defoliated trees,gypsy moth" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116814_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=TH6%2FmavmSvDosdKQZTpGYQGCuRE%3D" width="200" height="162" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html" title="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/116813_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=JfbOYAcqclK84BNn26vy1rYCIuE%3D" width="120" height="152" alt="Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars Even the conifers were defoliated.<br /> <br /> I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It&#039;s a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today&#039;s photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars

Even the conifers were defoliated.

I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires.

Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.

What it usually looks like:

Northwest Highlands - Connecticut, USA This is a typical forest scene from the Northwest Highlands of Connecticut. Located in the northwest corner of the state, it is part of the Berkshires and is known for its very rocky, hilly terrain and cooler temperatures. It is a heavily forested area (75%) with mesic forests that are dominated by hardwood and conifers. Common trees in the area include: oak, white and red pine, hickory, ash, maple, birch, and eastern hemlock...among others. There is also a variety of fauna - black bears, deer, coyotes, red fox, hare, raccoons, bobcats, porcupines, otters, fishers, beavers, wild turkeys, ducks, owls, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plenty of passerine birds! Fall,Geotagged,Northwest Highlands,United States,berkshires,connecticut


I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:
Female Gypsy Moths - Lymantria dispar I found hundreds of dead, female gypsy moths in this forest. Most were on the ground (at the base of trees), but some died on the trees right after depositing their egg masses on the bark. And, of course, I found lots of egg masses on the trees, many of which I scraped off as we are recommended to do because we have had heavy infestations in recent years that have caused massive defoliation.<br /> <br /> For more info on a recent, particularly bad infestation: https://www.jungledragon.com/image/57133/gypsy_moth_females_with_eggs.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed forest <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108640/gypsy_moth_eggs_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108639/female_gypsy_moth_dead_on_her_eggs_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108638/female_gypsy_moth_-_lymantria_dispar.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria,Lymantria dispar,Summer,United States,moth


Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest

Today's photos:
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,larva

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar Damage I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,caterpillar damage,gypsy moth

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires.<br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,larva

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillar I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires.<br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States

Trees Defoliated by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars (Lymantria dispar) The leaves are gone.<br /> <br /> I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States,caterpillar,defoliated trees,gypsy moth

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Caterpillars Even the conifers were defoliated.<br /> <br /> I hiked in my favorite forest in northwestern CT today. It's a dense, mesic forest in the highlands, which is part of the Berkshires. <br /> <br /> Today, the forest looked quite different. Most of the trees were defoliated, or in the process of becoming so. It was so uncharacteristically bright and hot in the woods, and all I could hear was the sound of caterpillar frass (poop) falling from the trees. There were gypsy moth caterpillars everywhere I looked - hardwood trees, low vegetation, conifers, on the ground, rocks, etc. They were everywhere. I hope the forest and its creatures can survive this devastation.<br /> <br /> What it usually looks like:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67448/northwest_highlands_-_connecticut_usa.html<br /> <br /> I scraped as many egg masses off trees in this forest last autumn as I could. Here is a photo of a mass of dead moths that I took last fall- the females die after laying their eggs. I found hundreds of them:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/108637/female_gypsy_moths_-_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> <br /> Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest<br /> <br /> Today's photos:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116812/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116819/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar_damage.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116818/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116817/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116816/trees_defoliated_by_gypsy_moth_caterpillars_lymantria_dispar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116814/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/116813/gypsy_moth_lymantria_dispar_caterpillars.html Geotagged,Gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,Spring,United States

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The Spongy Moth

Lymantria dispar, the gypsy moth, are moths in the family Erebidae. Lymantria dispar covers many subspecies, subspecies identification such as L. d. dispar or L. d. japonica leaves no ambiguity in identification. Lymantria dispar subspecies have a range which covers in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and South America.

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Christine Young
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By Christine Young

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Uploaded Jun 18, 2021. Captured Jun 18, 2021 13:05 in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.
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  • Canon EOS 90D
  • f/13.0
  • 1/197s
  • ISO800
  • 100mm