gypsy moth
noun
plural gypsy moths
: spongy moth see usage paragraph at gypsy
Note: The Entomological Society of America announced in March 2022 that it has officially renamed this insect the spongy moth due to the offensiveness of the historical name.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Dogs have also been used to find seals on ice, gas leaks and the presence of gypsy moth egg sacks. 
Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 11 June 2022 The moth, which was previously known as the gypsy moth, is one reason Wisconsin has rules against transporting firewood. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2022 The Entomological Society of America announced this week that the spongy moth as the new common name for the invasive species formerly known as the gypsy moth. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 4 Mar. 2022 At the time of the last major outbreak, a fungus significantly decreased the gypsy moth population. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 14 June 2021 Bug experts are dropping the common name of a destructive insect because it's considered an ethnic slur: the gypsy moth. Seth Borenstein, Star Tribune, 9 July 2021 Bug experts are dropping the common name of a destructive insect because it's considered an ethnic slur: the gypsy moth. Fox News, 9 July 2021 But that's impossible since gypsy moth caterpillars wiped his trees and bushes clean this year. Keely Aouga And Evan Simko-bednarski, CNN, 4 July 2021 Vermont is experiencing its worst outbreak of leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars since 1991, according to state foresters. Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY, 14 June 2021 See More
Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 11 June 2022 The moth, which was previously known as the gypsy moth, is one reason Wisconsin has rules against transporting firewood. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2022 The Entomological Society of America announced this week that the spongy moth as the new common name for the invasive species formerly known as the gypsy moth. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 4 Mar. 2022 At the time of the last major outbreak, a fungus significantly decreased the gypsy moth population. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 14 June 2021 Bug experts are dropping the common name of a destructive insect because it's considered an ethnic slur: the gypsy moth. Seth Borenstein, Star Tribune, 9 July 2021 Bug experts are dropping the common name of a destructive insect because it's considered an ethnic slur: the gypsy moth. Fox News, 9 July 2021 But that's impossible since gypsy moth caterpillars wiped his trees and bushes clean this year. Keely Aouga And Evan Simko-bednarski, CNN, 4 July 2021 Vermont is experiencing its worst outbreak of leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars since 1991, according to state foresters. Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY, 14 June 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1742, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
gypsy moth
noun
: a moth whose caterpillar does great damage to trees by eating the leaves