In late July, spongy egg masses can be observed on … The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an important defoliating insect of hardwoods in New Hampshire. Life Cycle The female gypsy moth lays an egg mass, covering it with body hairs to act as insulation and to help protect the eggs from predators. It hatches about the time oak buds start to open. Gypsy moth eggs hatch generally between late April and mid-May. A native of Europe and Asia, the gypsy moth was introduced into North America in 1869 when specimens were accidentally released in Medford, Massachusetts. Gypsy moth caterpillars can be so abundant that many trees will be completely defoliated by early July. Gypsy moth lay their eggs in protected areas, and will lay them on both natural and artificial surfaces. Gypsy moths have four stages of life: egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa and adult moth. Gypsy moth outbreaks usually last from one to five years and then subside due to disease build-up, starvation, and the impact of natural predation. The Gypsy Moth's Life Cycle and Related Moths The Gypsy Moth. The only function of the adult stage of the gypsy moth is to reproduce leaving behind as many as a thousand descendants. Populations then remain low from four to twelve years before resurging into the “boom” part of the cycle. Over the next 40 years, gypsy moth quickly spread as a result of human activities (motorized vehicles and tourism). Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L) caterpillars feed on the leaves of oaks, aspen, crabapple and many other types of trees.Outbreaks of gypsy moth are not frequent but when they occur, it can be unpleasant to live, work or recreate in an affected area. Unlike many other moths and butterflies, the adult gypsy moth cannot feed. Gypsy moth outbreaks occur every 7 to 10 years. Larvae chew holes in leaves or devour entire leaves. Egg masses are the overwintering life stage, and are the life stage that is present for the longest amount of time (approximately 10 months in Minnesota). The gypsy moth has four distinct developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage of the gypsy moth is a caterpillar that hatches in the spring from eggs laid the summer before. Gypsy moth is an outbreak pest and can remain at low levels for several years and then numbers can rise every few years. Shortly after the female gypsy moth lays the egg mass, she dies, and the eggs wait out the winter until temperatures rise in the spring and a hatch begins. The gypsy moth undergoes a complete metamorphosis - changing from egg to larva (caterpillar) to pupa to adult. The gypsy month has four stages in its life cycle, and these stages are the egg, larva, pupa and the adult stages. Eggs and pupae appear lifeless, but undergo dramatic changes internally. Gypsy Moth Life Cycle. The eggs remain here over the winter and hatch when the hardwood trees bloom in the spring. Gypsy moth identification and biology Gypsy moth impacts. Gypsy moths in the U.S. Gypsy moth adults and eggs. The larval, … Each life stage looks and behaves very differently from the other stages. Male moths are light brown and slender-bodied, while females are white and heavy-bodied. Females lay a mass of 500 to 1,000 tan, fuzzy eggs in a sheltered area. As a caterpillar grows, it can eat older, tougher leaves. Symptoms and damage. The moth has about 2 weeks to find a mate before death; completing their one year life cycle. Reproduction and Life Cycle. Young caterpillars need to eat tender new leaves. Every female gypsy moth can lay anywhere from 100 to 500 eggs, and they mostly lay in the areas where there is shelter. Introduced to the U.S. in 1869, over the following 100 years, gypsy moth spread slowly across New England—primarily through caterpillar movement. 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