Gypsy Moth (Adults, Pupae, Eggs)

Description:

Females have white wings, a tan body, and approximately a two-inch wingspan. They cannot fly. Females simply crawl to a spot near where they pupated, and wait for a male to find them to mate. After mating, female gypsy moths lay a mass of eggs (tan). Each egg mass can hold up to 600 eggs. You can also see a ton of pupae in this picture.

Habitat:

On a tree in my mother's backyard, which is in a semi-rural area. This is a very common sight - many tree, houses, sheds, etc. look like this or worse. They have absolutely wreaked havoc on the trees in the area.

Notes:

Here are links for 3 other spottings that I've posted of gypsy moths in RI this spring and summer: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/323... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/212... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/103...