Gypsy moth (female laying eggs)

Description:

Female moth 31–35 mm, very pale cream, with dark bands and spots on the forewings. Abdomen very large, hairy and dark ochre. Females are bigger than the males. Another important difference between the sexes is that females possess fully formed wings, but do not fly.

Habitat:

The gypsy moth brings one of the largest impacts in defoliation of deciduous trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its introduction into the United States in 1868 or 1869, it has spread both west and south, now taking over most of the hardwood forests in the eastern United States and Canada. Over three hundred species of trees and shrubs are host to the gypsy moth.Gypsy moth larvae prefer oak trees, but may feed on many species of trees and shrubs, both hardwood and conifer.

Notes:

I found this female sitting on the side of a white wall, decided to photograph her on a leaf, then left her on some old wood where she quickly started to lay the silky stuff from her abdomen for the eggs. Her babies will probably attack the nearby trees...