spongy moth
noun
plural spongy moths
: an Old World tussock moth (Lymantria dispar) that was introduced about 1869 into the U.S., that has a grayish-brown hairy caterpillar which is a destructive defoliator of many trees, and that has a flightless adult female which lays eggs in a spongelike ovoid egg mass covered in yellowish-brown hairs
Note: The mature caterpillar of the spongy moth has two distinctive rows of five blue dots followed by six red dots on the back.
Note: This insect was formerly known as the gypsy moth but was officially renamed by the Entomological Society of America in March 2022 due to the offensiveness of the historical name.
Examples of spongy moth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the government agency, spongy moth populations in Calabasas are due to be fully treated by September 2026, but these dates could be extended.
—
Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
Dwyer said that when there was a spongy moth outbreak in Michigan, hundreds of square miles of oak forests were left bare.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, go on a search-and-destroy mission through the garden, inspecting tree branches, patio furniture and other surfaces for the egg cases of spongy moths.
—Jessica Damiano, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2024
For example, spongy moths may be virtually absent for years on end before appearing en masse and defoliating forests.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 July 2024
The woodrats’ food sources have also taken a hit, such as chestnut trees destroyed by chestnut blight and acorn-producing oak trees imperiled by the spongy moth.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2024
The spotted lanternfly is currently found in 17 states, while the spongy moth has been found in 20, USDA said.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
The spongy moth and spotted lanternfly are destructive invasive insects.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The spotted lanternfly is currently found in 17 states and the spongy moth has been detected in 20.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2024
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Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
Dwyer said that when there was a spongy moth outbreak in Michigan, hundreds of square miles of oak forests were left bare.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, go on a search-and-destroy mission through the garden, inspecting tree branches, patio furniture and other surfaces for the egg cases of spongy moths.
—Jessica Damiano, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2024
For example, spongy moths may be virtually absent for years on end before appearing en masse and defoliating forests.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 July 2024
The woodrats’ food sources have also taken a hit, such as chestnut trees destroyed by chestnut blight and acorn-producing oak trees imperiled by the spongy moth.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2024
The spotted lanternfly is currently found in 17 states, while the spongy moth has been found in 20, USDA said.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
The spongy moth and spotted lanternfly are destructive invasive insects.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The spotted lanternfly is currently found in 17 states and the spongy moth has been detected in 20.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Spongy moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spongy%20moth. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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