The gypsy moth is a moth of the Tussock family whose larvae are very destructive to the foliage of fruit and shade trees. The male is brownish-yellow varying to a greenish-brown color. The wings are darker than the body and have black spots. Its zigzag flight is a distinguishing feature of the insect. The body of the female ís buff and the wings are nearly white, with black spots. They have an expanse of about two inches, but owing to the size of her body the female is seldom on the wing.
In July and August the eggs are deposited on the branches and trunks of trees, fences and sides of buildings, where the yellowish tan-covered clusters are readily seen. They hatch about the first of May and the caterpillars reach maturity in mid-summer, when they are from two and one-half to three inches long. They are of a sooty color with rows of blue and red spots on the back. They frequently drop on carriages and trains and are carried long distances. They can be destroyed by the usual spraying solutions. Bands of burlap around the trunks of infested trees will trap many which can be easily disposed of.
