Hi Jason,

Thanks for using the Hotline. Fortunately, this is not an exotic gypsy moth but some other moth. During this time of year, there are no live adult forms of gypsy moths. If gypsy moths are present in April, they would be tiny caterpillars that recently hatched from eggs which would have been laid by female moths last summer. (The females lay the eggs and then die.) It takes several weeks for the tiny caterpillars to grow and develop before they pupate and emerge as adults, most frequently in July. Therefore, because your moth was captured as an adult in April, we can rule it out as gypsy moth. I can't be certain of the species without the specimen in front of me, but it is likely a cutworm moth, a very common native species that develops early in our area.

To learn more about gypsy moth identification and other facts, please visit:

http://pestdetector.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sites/pest/files/ODF%20Gypsy%20moth%20fact%20sheet%20Feb%202016.pdf

Thanks for using the hotline!

Regards,
Wyatt Williams
Oregon Dept. of Forestry

Wyatt Williams
April 19, 2016, 2:13 a.m.