How to Spot a Gypsy Moth

Look for the Gypsy moth on its preferred hosts. You'll find Gypsy moths on several hundred species of trees, including deciduous hardwoods such as elm and oak.

Observe the egg masses of the Gypsy moth. These egg masses are yellow to tan in color and appear to be fuzzy or hairy. They are approximately 4 cm in size and may contain up to 1,000 eggs. They're on trees, on buildings and even in protected areas such as lawn furniture.

Take note of the Gypsy Moth larvae's appearance. The larva of the Gypsy Moth is a caterpillar that can be up to 6.3 cm in length. This caterpillar has five pairs of blue dots and then six pairs of red dots down its back. The Gypsy moth larva also has a beige to tan colored head with dark spots and markings. These caterpillars hatch between late April and early June and feed until early July. They do not build any silk tents or webs, unlike some other caterpillars.

Look at the pupa of the Gypsy moth. The pupa is reddish or brownish in color, and it attaches itself to surfaces via silk threads. The female pupa is larger than the male pupa.

Observe the adult Gypsy moth. Males are gray or brown in color, and they have large, feathery antennae. In addition, they also exhibit dark, scalloped markings on their wings. These markings parallel the wing margins. Female adult Gypsy moths are larger than the males and appear white to yellowish in color. They have small brown spots on their wings and dark, wavy lines along the edges. Females have small, thin antennae. Whereas male Gypsy moth adults can fly, females cannot. You'll see adult Gypsy moths between July and August.