Gypsy Moths Lymantria dispar

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The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, was introduced into this country in 1869 and has since become a serious pest in the northeastern part of the United States. In some areas it has changed the ecology of native forests, defoliating more than 13 million acres of woodlands in one season.

In recent years, the gypsy moth invasion has slowly moved westward, with established populations in Michigan and eastern Wisconsin. Recent surveys by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service conclude that the westward invasion of gypsy moths is now in Indiana and Illinois.

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