gypsy moth (redirected from gypsy moths)

gypsy moth

n.

1. A European moth (Lymantria dispar) having hairy caterpillars that feed on foliage and are destructive to trees and shrubs. It was introduced into the United States in the late 1800s.

2. Informal A moderate Republican representing a northeast or midwestern urban area in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

gypsy moth - European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade trees gipsy moth, Lymantria dispar lymantriid, tussock moth - dull-colored moth whose larvae have tufts of hair on the body and feed on the leaves of many deciduous trees genus Lymantria, Lymantria - type genus of the Lymantriidae; a pest (Lymantria means `destroyer')