The new common name announced in March of 2022, refers to the insect’s light brown, fuzzy egg masses that resemble sponges. Also, the countries of France, Germany and Turkey reference sponges in their common name for Lymantria dispar.

In the early 20th century common insect names, versus the scientific name, were adopted to help bridge communication between those who study insects (entomologists) and those who don’t. Entomologists are always striving for effective communication to help advance the science of entomology and provide information to the public and policy makers.

About 25 percent of the US population claim they have a fear of insects. Yet, insects play a significant role in the health of our planet. For example, some insects act as pollinators while others are decomposers breaking down wastes such as dead animals and plants. Without insects, plants would not be able to reproduce and dead things would accumulate in the environment.

Not all insects are beneficial to the environment they inhabit, especially if they have been introduced accidentally or intentionally. The spongy moth is an example if an introduced insect as it is not native to the United States. They were brought from France in the late 1860’s with the intent of developing a silk industry in the US. The experiment was not successful with some moths escaping. By 1981 these destructive moths were found throughout New York State.

*This article was originally printed in the Citizen newspaper on April 15, 2022 by Judy Wright

To better understand the life cycle of a Spongy Moth get this fact sheet 

Spongy Moth Fact Sheet