Organisms

Lymantria dispar

Moths of genus Lymantria in the family Erebidae, order Lepidoptera. European-origin subspecies Lymantria dispar dispar was formerly known as gypsy moth and accidentally released in Medford, Massachusetts. Now they are called spongy moths and have spread to many states from Virginia to Michigan and pockets of California. Spongy moth caterpillars cause severe defoliation of oaks and other trees and shrubs. LYMANTRIA DISPAR is a group of related Asian-origin subspecies moths known to cause more extensive damage in its native range because its females are active fliers unlike spongy moths of European origin. FSMC includes Lymantria dispar asiatica, L. d. japonica, L. albescens, L. umbrosa, and L. postalba.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Moths of genus Lymantria in the family Erebidae, order Lepidoptera. European-origin subspecies Lymantria dispar dispar was formerly known as gypsy moth and accidentally released in Medford, Massachusetts. Now they are called spongy moths and have spread to many states from Virginia to Michigan and pockets of California. Spongy moth caterpillars cause severe defoliation of oaks and other trees and shrubs. LYMANTRIA DISPAR is a group of related Asian-origin subspecies moths known to cause more extensive damage in its native range because its females are active fliers unlike spongy moths of European origin. FSMC includes Lymantria dispar asiatica, L. d. japonica, L. albescens, L. umbrosa, and L. postalba.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

21 entry terms
  • Phalaena dispar
  • Asian Gypsy Moth
  • Asian Gypsy Moths
  • Asian Spongy Moth
  • European Gypsy Moth
  • European Gypsy Moths
  • Flighted Spongy Moth Complex
  • Lymantria albescens
  • Lymantria dispar asiatica
  • Lymantria dispar dispar
  • Lymantria dispar japonica
  • Lymantria post-alba
  • Lymantria postalba
  • Lymantria umbrosa
  • Porthetria umbrosa
  • Spongy Moth
  • Gypsy Moth, Asian
  • Gypsy Moths, Asian
  • Moth, Asian Gypsy
  • Moth, Asian Spongy
  • Spongy Moth, Asian

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

18 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings anatomy & histology, chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2026; was Flighted Spongy Moth Complex 2024-2026; for Lymantria dispar dispar use under Moths 2024-2026

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. B01w.050w.500w.131w.617w.720w.500w.500w.937w.650w.050

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Lymantria dispar. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000097664. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000097664
  2. Lymantria dispar. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124334360