A Spongy Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (7/11/2015). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA.

View Record Details Photo by Shannon Schade MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/14/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/9/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/21/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Kimberly Booth MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/2/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/12/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/16/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 414393 - Psn: 25)

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/16/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/12/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/14/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/14/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/14/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/18/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/19/2021). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 426744 - Psn: 45)

View Record Details Photo by Timothy Reichard MBP List

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/1/2022). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 596374 - Psn: 55)

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/1/2022). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

A female Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/22/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Matt Tillett MBP List

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/10/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/19/2019). (c) Bill Blauvelt, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 326281 - Psn: 66)

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/19/2019). (c) Bill Blauvelt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Blauvelt via iNaturalist MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland.

View Record Details Photo by Bob Patterson MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7//2002).

View Record Details Photo by Larry Line MBP List

A male Spongy Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/9/2003).

View Record Details Photo by Larry Line MBP List

A male Spongy Moth collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/21/2001).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

Adult Spongy Moth with egg mass in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 764869 - Psn: 112)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/27/2016). (c) Allen Dupre, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 847812 - Psn: 112)

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/27/2016). (c) Allen Dupre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Allen Dupre via iNaturalist MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/12/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Emilio Concari MBP List

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Washington Co., Maryland (2/22/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/30/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 342888 - Psn: 122)

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Judy Gallagher MBP List

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/5/2022). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 532172 - Psn: 122)

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/5/2022). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

Spongy Moth eggs in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/16/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (9/21/2024). (c) Kayleigh Welch, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1123168 - Psn: 144)

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (9/21/2024). (c) Kayleigh Welch, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Kayleigh Parsons via iNaturalist MBP List

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 921647 - Psn: 145)

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/11/2006).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/4/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A male Spongy Moth collected in a baited trap in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/25/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/22/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

Spongy Moth cocoons in Howard Co., Maryland (2/21/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/9/2025). (c) Sue Muller, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1217548 - Psn: 165)

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/9/2025). (c) Sue Muller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/17/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/17/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

A Spongy Moth pupae & egg mass in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/30/2007).

View Record Details Photo by Janice Browne MBP List

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/31/2021). Verified by J. Wiley Rains/BAMONA.

View Record Details Photo by Jim Moore MBP List

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/11/2026). (c) Adrienne van den Beemt, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>) (Photo ID: 1484303 - Psn: 200)

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/11/2026). (c) Adrienne van den Beemt, some rights reserved (CC BY)

View Record Details Photo by Adrienne van den Beemt MBP List

A Spongy Moth pupa in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/4/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth pupa in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/4/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Scott Housten MBP List

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/13/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (11/25/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

Map Snapshot

261 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

Introduced from Eurasia around 1869 and rapidly spreading. A significant threat to hardwoods.

"Etienne Leopold Trouvelot, an amateur entomologist, brought Gypsy Moths into the United States to see if they could be successfully reared for silk culture. Around 1869 some of Trouvelot's charges escaped from his home near Boston. Realizing the potential magnitude of the problem, he reported the escape but no action was taken until the infestation grew serious several years later." (BugGuide.net)

Relationships

Host plants include over 500 plant species including Blue Huckleberry (Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View images at BugGuide View in Moth Photographers Group

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/. Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A Spongy Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (7/11/2015). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA. View Record Details Media by Shannon Schade.

A male Spongy Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/14/2018). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/9/2020). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

A male Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/21/2015). View Record Details Media by Kimberly Booth.

A male Spongy Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/2/2014). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/12/2014). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/16/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/12/2014). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

A Spongy Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/14/2013). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/18/2017). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/1/2022). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

A female Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/22/2014). View Record Details Media by Matt Tillett.

A Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (7/10/2019). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/19/2019). (c) Bill Blauvelt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Bill Blauvelt via iNaturalist.

A male Spongy Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland. View Record Details Media by Bob Patterson.

A male Spongy Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7//2002). View Record Details Media by Larry Line.

A male Spongy Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/9/2003). View Record Details Media by Larry Line.

A male Spongy Moth collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/21/2001). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/27/2016). (c) Allen Dupre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Allen Dupre via iNaturalist.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/12/2019). View Record Details Media by Emilio Concari.

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Washington Co., Maryland (2/22/2020). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/30/2014). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Judy Gallagher.

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/5/2022). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

Spongy Moth eggs in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/16/2020). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (9/21/2024). (c) Kayleigh Welch, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Kayleigh Parsons via iNaturalist.

Spongy Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/11/2006). View Record Details Media by Bill Hubick.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/4/2013). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

A male Spongy Moth collected in a baited trap in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/25/2018). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

Spongy Moth cocoons in Howard Co., Maryland (2/21/2018). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

Spongy Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/9/2025). (c) Sue Muller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/17/2015). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2014). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/17/2015). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

A Spongy Moth pupae & egg mass in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/30/2007). View Record Details Media by Janice Browne.

A Spongy Moth caterpillar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/31/2021). Verified by J. Wiley Rains/BAMONA. View Record Details Media by Jim Moore.

Spongy Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/11/2026). (c) Adrienne van den Beemt, some rights reserved (CC BY) View Record Details Media by Adrienne van den Beemt.

A Spongy Moth pupa in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/4/2014). View Record Details Media by Scott Housten.

A Spongy Moth egg mass in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/13/2019). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

Spongy Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (11/25/2018). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.