Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth) Egg Masses
Scientific Name: Lymantria dispar
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Erebidae
Size: Individual masses are 1-2 inches long; individual eggs are tiny (1mm)
Natural Habitat
Found on trees, vehicles, outdoor furniture, and houses; native to Europe and North Africa but invasive in North America
Diet & Feeding
Egg masses do not eat; larvae (caterpillars) defoliate over 300 species of trees and shrubs, preferring oak
Behavior Patterns
Females lay eggs in late summer in fuzzy tan clusters; eggs overwinter and hatch in spring into highly mobile, ravenous caterpillars
Risks & Benefits
Major invasive pest that causes massive forest defoliation and tree death; caterpillar hairs can cause skin rashes in humans
Identified on: 6/28/2026