ABH: 72.011
BF: 2034
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriinae
Taxon: Lymantria dispar
Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Vernacular: Gypsy Moth
Account: Formerly frequent in the fens of East Anglia, this moth was presumed extinct in Britain in the early 1900s when breeding sites were cleared and drained. Occasional records, mainly from coastal southern England, since then have been regarded as immigrants. However, in the 21st century it has become temporarily established in a very few areas, these all thought to be accidental introductions by the horticultural trade The male has prominent crescent-shaped black reniform mark and black orbicular spot; the female is superficially similar to female Black Arches - but the latter species is smaller with the female Gypsy Moth having a thickset and blunt abdomen - and cannot fly, rarely travelling far from the cocoon and thus any occurrence in Britain of a female moth is clear evidence of local breeding.
The extinct English race fed on Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) and Creeping Willow (Salix repens). On mainland Europe occurs in a wide variety of habitats feeding on broadleaved trees and bushes.
Wingspan: male 48 — 53 mm; female 59 — 65 mm
Surrey Flight Period: 11 Jul (2021) — 12 Sep (2021)
Foodplant: Myrica gale (Bog-myrtle), Salix repens (Creeping Willow).
Status: NA
UK BAP:
WCA:
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Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/lymantria-dispar/
* Based on adult records only.
Records: 264
Individuals: 370
Earliest Year: 2010
Latest Year: 2025