They have five pair of blue dots, followed by six pairs of red dots, on their backs. They may reach two inches in length. Large caterpillars often hide during the day light hours, coming out at night to feed. Pupae of the gypsy moth are brownish-black and heavy bodied. They are usually found in sheltered locations.
Adults emerge about two weeks after pupation to mate and lay eggs.
Here you can see a close up comparison of the male and female adult gypsy moths. Note the differences in color, size and shape of the antennae. Insecticides, either chemical or biological, are often applied by helicoptera because of the rugged terrain or urban location of the infestation. When large areas must be treated for control of the gypsy moth, fixed wing aircraft may be used to apply insect control materials to thousands of acres. Several types of pheromone traps are used to survey areas for gypsy moth adults.