Gypsy moths are the most important defoliators of hardwood trees and shrubs in the United States.
Here you can see the results of feeding by the larvae which results in entire stands of trees being defoliated. Gypsy moth larvae hatch from overwintering eggs in early spring and feed during the mid to late spring. By early summer they have matured and entered the pupal stage. Here you can see the type of damage they do to the foliage of hardwoods. They have brown wings with black wavy lines running across the wings.