gypsy moth

American  

noun

1. a moth, Porthetria dispar, introduced into the U.S. from Europe, the larvae of which feed on the foliage of shade and other trees.

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gypsy moth British  

noun

1. a variant spelling of gipsy moth

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Etymology

Origin of gypsy moth

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gypsy moth

The gypsy moth was renamed the spongy moth by the Entomological Society of America last year, and the former Hottentot Teal, a duck, was renamed the Blue-Billed Teal by the American Ornithological Society.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2023

In 2022, for instance, the Entomological Society of America adopted spongy moth for the invasive moth Lymantria dispar, getting rid of gypsy moth.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 5, 2023

This spring, I was finally introduced to its very hungry caterpillars, the larval stage of the insect formerly known as the gypsy moth before it was renamed this year.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2022

Agriculture Department determined the eggs were laid by an Asian gypsy moth, a “voracious pest” that can threaten North American forests.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2020

The Department’s all-out chemical war on the gypsy moth began on an ambitious scale.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson