A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
- A -
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- B -
- B.t Bacillus thuringiensis
- A bacterium that occurs naturally in the soil and is fatal to yong gypsy moth larvae. A commercial prepartation of B.t. is used as a spray or powder and kills only caterpillars - it is not toxic to humans, other animals or plants.
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- C -
- Collapse
- The drop of a gypsy moth caterpillar population to extremely low levels in a particular area.
- Coniferous
- A type of tree that bears cones and usually keeps its leaves (needles) through the winter.
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- D -
- Deciduous
- A type of tree that loses its leaves each fall.
- Defoliate
- To remove leaves from plants, trees or shrubs.
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- E -
- Egg mass
- A cluster of eggs laid by the gypsy moth. The number ranges from 50 to more than 1,500, with an average of about 400. Clusters are usually buff-colored.
- Entomologist
- A person who studies insects.
- Eradicate
- To eliminate an organism from a geographical area. So far, it has been impossible to eradicate the gypsy moth in Michigan.
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- F -
- Frass
- Caterpillar droppings.
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- G -
- Geotrophic
- Relating to the earth. Negatively geotrophic means that the young caterpillars move away from the earth.
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- H -
- Hatch
- The process where a young larvae comes out of its egg.
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- I -
- Infestation
- High numbers of gypsy moth caterpillars causing widespread defoliation.
- Instars
- Stages of caterpillar growth between molts.
- IPM
- Integrated pest management (IPM) means using a variety of ways, including natural controls, to limit insect populations to a tolerable level.
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- J -
- (empty)
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- K -
- (empty)
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- L -
- Larval stage
- The immature form or caterpillar of the gypsy moth.
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- M -
- Metamorphosis
- A change in form during development. Simple metamorphosis has three stages: egg, nymph, adult. Complex metamorphosis has four stages: egg, larvae, pupa, adult.
- Molt
- As the gypsy moth caterpillar grows, it sheds the outer covering, called molting, at the end of each instar. Gypsy moth caterpillars generally molt five times before they reach their full length.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of the gypsy moth spread and caterpillar population. Using pheromone traps, counting egg masses, and watching for caterpillars are common methods used to monitor the gypsy moth.
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- N -
- NPV
- Nucleopolyhedrous virus (NPV) occurs naturally in all gpysy moth populations but doesn't become a major cause of mortality until gypsy moth caterpillar populations are high or stressed.
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- O -
- Outbreak
- When the population of the gypsy moth caterpillars ranges between 620,000 and 6,200,000 per acre when at 4th instar larvae and is causing widespread, severe defoliation.
- Ovipositor
- The egg-laying part of the female insect. Sometimes the ovipositor looks like a stinger.
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- P -
- Parasites
- Organisms that feed within gypsy moth eggs or invade the gypsy moth caterpillar, feeding inside and killing it.
- Pheromone
- A scent that the flightless female gypsy moth emits to attract the male gypsy moth so they can mate.
- Pheromone Trap
- A cardboard structure similar to a small birdhouse in which pheromone is placed. The pheromone attracts the male gypsy moth, which is then trapped inside. Traps are used to estimate thenumber of gypsy moths in certain locations.
- Phototrophic
- Related to the light. Positively phototrophic means that the caterpillar moves toward the light or sun.
- Predaceous
- An insect or animal that searches for other insects or animals for food.
- Pupa
- The stage in gypsy moth development when the larva (caterpillar) changes into the adult moth.
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- Q -
- (empty)
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- R -
- Refoliate
- To produce new leaves after some or all of the first leaves are damaged or eaten by insects, winds, frost, or disease. The new leaves are fewer in number and smaller in size than the original leaves produced in the spring.
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- S -
- Stress
- The effect on plants caused by poor growing conditions or damage by insects, weather or disease. A tree defoliated by gypsy moth caterpillars must draw upon energy stored in the roots to survive.
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- T -
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- U -
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- V -
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- W -
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- X -
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- Y -
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- Z -
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- # -
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Document Author(s): Program Staff
Revised: September 10, 1997
URL: http://www.ent.msu.edu/gypsyed/docs/glossary.html