Gypsy Moth Page 2

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Gypsy Moths Page 2

Gypsy moth egg masses (see if you can pick out the actual eggs).

Life Cycle
Egg Masses (July - April or May)
The life cycle starts off with fuzzy, tan colored egg masses. Each egg mass contains anywhere from 100 to 1,000 eggs (the actual eggs are the little gray balls). These are found in bark flaps, woodpiles, on the underside of cars and trailers. They are present from July through April or May. Do a little experiment, go outside and check around for these egg masses during the winter. Get a pair of binoculars to look up in the tree on the undersides of branches, and then check woodpiles, fences, and other hiding places. If you find some you can estimate how big the gypsy moth population will be in your area this spring.

Gypsy moth caterpillar (notice the blue and red dots)
Larvae (May - July)
The eggs hatch and little caterpillars (larvae) emerge. This is the only time in their life cycle gypsy moths feed. At the beginning of this stage the larvae feeds only at night, resting during the day. Towards the end of the stage they feed all day and all night. In this stage the larvae will go through different stages called instars. Females will go through six, males through five. After each instar the larvae molts or sheds its skin and grows bigger. During the last instar, the caterpillar will pupate. A good way to tell if you are looking at a gypsy moth caterpillar is to notice the five pairs of blue then six pairs of red dots along the back.

Gypsy moth pupae, the larger is the female.

Pupae (June - July)
This stage only lasts for 7 - 14 days and is a resting period for the insect. A hard dark brown shell is formed called a pupa. The female is bigger than the male. In this stage they are defenseless against predators such as birds, ants, and mice, which feed on many of them. Since the female goes through one more instar, she will enter the pupa stage later than the male.

Male (left) and female (right) adult gypsy moths.

Adult Moth (July - August)
When in the pupa a metamorphosis takes place, changing the caterpillar into a moth. The adult gypsy moth will be seen from July - August. The female is larger and white in color; she usually lays her eggs where she hatched out of the pupa since she does not fly. The female lets off a pheromone, which is a scent that attracts the male to her. The male is brown in color and will fly up to two miles to find a female to mate with. The gypsy moth dies shortly after mating and laying eggs.

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Gypsy moth egg masses (see if you can pick out the actual eggs).	Life Cycle Egg Masses (July - April or May) The life cycle starts off with fuzzy, tan colored egg masses. Each egg mass contains anywhere from 100 to 1,000 eggs (the actual eggs are the little gray balls). These are found in bark flaps, woodpiles, on the underside of cars and trailers. They are present from July through April or May. Do a little experiment, go outside and check around for these egg masses during the winter. Get a pair of binoculars to look up in the tree on the undersides of branches, and then check woodpiles, fences, and other hiding places. If you find some you can estimate how big the gypsy moth population will be in your area this spring.
Gypsy moth caterpillar (notice the blue and red dots)	Larvae (May - July) The eggs hatch and little caterpillars (larvae) emerge. This is the only time in their life cycle gypsy moths feed. At the beginning of this stage the larvae feeds only at night, resting during the day. Towards the end of the stage they feed all day and all night. In this stage the larvae will go through different stages called instars. Females will go through six, males through five. After each instar the larvae molts or sheds its skin and grows bigger. During the last instar, the caterpillar will pupate. A good way to tell if you are looking at a gypsy moth caterpillar is to notice the five pairs of blue then six pairs of red dots along the back.
Gypsy moth pupae, the larger is the female.	Pupae (June - July) This stage only lasts for 7 - 14 days and is a resting period for the insect. A hard dark brown shell is formed called a pupa. The female is bigger than the male. In this stage they are defenseless against predators such as birds, ants, and mice, which feed on many of them. Since the female goes through one more instar, she will enter the pupa stage later than the male.
Male (left) and female (right) adult gypsy moths.	Adult Moth (July - August) When in the pupa a metamorphosis takes place, changing the caterpillar into a moth. The adult gypsy moth will be seen from July - August. The female is larger and white in color; she usually lays her eggs where she hatched out of the pupa since she does not fly. The female lets off a pheromone, which is a scent that attracts the male to her. The male is brown in color and will fly up to two miles to find a female to mate with. The gypsy moth dies shortly after mating and laying eggs.