Lymantria monacha?

[Joseph G. Kunkel]

_Lymantria monacha_, The Nun Moth, is found on islands off the coast of
Maine as well as other locations I can not quote at the moment.  It has
larval hairs, I am told, that are very irritating and creates severe
rashes in people who encounter them.  It is an introduced species like
its relative _Lymantria dispar_, the gypsy moth.  Both species are not
particularly welcome in the Americas.  I am not sure whether the nun
moth is as big an economic problem as the gypsy moth but its allergic
significance it supposedly worse.
Joe

Jaakko B Kullberg wrote:
> 
> Matti Jantunen <jantsa at sci.fi> wrote:
> : If someone can tell me more news from Lymantria monacha's situation today in America, please
> : do so.
> : (I'am pretty sure that it is a only spiece which people have wanted to exterminate from America).
> 

-- 
______________________________
Joe Kunkel, Professor
Biology Department, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
joe at bio.umass.edu  http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/kunkel/