Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an insect pest of hundreds of species. It is a native of Europe and Asia and was first detected in Boston, Massachusetts in 1868-1869.
This generalist feeder was brought to the U.S. by E. Leopold Trouvelot with the hope of breeding an improved silk moth but escaped moths proved to be highly invasive with no natural predators or diseases to check their populations. The US Forest Service 'Slow the Spread' program has done just that. Gypsy Moth is just one of many forest pests that are moved to un-infested forests by humans moving firewood. Help to protect our forests: don't move firewood!