Gypsy moth infestations are cyclical and alternate between years when trees experience little visible defoliation (gypsy moth population numbers are sparse) followed by 2 to 4 years when trees are visibly defoliated (gypsy moth population numbers are dense). The gypsy moth is not a native insect. It was introduced into the United States in 1869 by a French scientist living in Massachusetts. The first outbreak occurred in 1889. By 1987, the gypsy moth had established itself throughout the Northeastern United States and is slowly expanding through the Eastern Hardwood Timber Region.
The Destructive Gypsy Moth, A Tree Defoliator and Major Forest Pest
By Steve Nix, About.com Guide
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The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is one of the most notorious pests of hardwood trees in the Eastern United States according to one United States Forest Service Pest Publication. Since 1980, the gypsy moth has defoliated close to a million forested acres each year. A record 12.9 million acres were defoliated in 1981 alone. This is an area larger than Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut combined.
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