Lymantria dispar

Hairy lizard

AFFECTED SPECIES:
Quercus and fagaceae

Description:
It is a butterfly with a large wingspan and can reach 3 cm in length, being covered with orange hairs. This bulky abdomen prevents it from flying, despite having perfectly developed wings, so it moves around walking clumsily. They do not usually move away to lay their eggs, using sexual pheromones to attract the male. The thorax is covered with abundant whitish hairs. The wings are whitish, with a series of black spots, including a V-shaped one on the forewings and smaller ones on the apical margin. The antennae are finely serrated. The legs are black, with the femur covered with whitish hairs. The male is smaller.

Generations
The biological cycle of Lymantria dispar is univoltine, with only one generation per year.

Damage
Damage is caused by larval feeding. Initially the damage appears as holes in the new leaves. As the larvae grow, feeding will also attack the margin, and in the later stages will consume the entire leaf. If sprouting has not occurred when the larva hatches, it will feed on the buds, but without destroying them, so that sprouting occurs, and subsequently attack the newly hatched shoots. If the pest is very intense, the caterpillar will end up feeding on the old leaves, causing total defoliation. As a result of this damage, the acorn crop is lost.