Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar), formerly gypsy moth

Outbreaks of spongy moth are not frequent but are unpleasant to live with when they do occur. Learn more about why populations grow and collapse and how you can deal with their impact.

Btk: One management option Dealing with spongy moth around your home View more resources

Spongy Moth Life Cycle

Surveying Spongy Moth Egg Masses to Forecast Next Year’s Population

A Virus and a Fungal Disease Cause Spongy Moth Outbreaks to Collapse

Using Bands to Protect Shade Trees from Spongy Moth

Note: The Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America elected to change gypsy moth to spongy moth in early 2022. The transition to the new common name will likely be a multi-year process. To maintain consistency for those who have been dealing with this pest, several of our outreach materials may include the previous common name, gypsy moth.

Btk: One Management Option for Spongy Moth

This publication is designed to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Bt and spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), formerly gypsy moth.

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