European Gypsy Moth

European Gypsy moth egg masses on Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) trunk. Egg clusters are usually an oval about 3/4 of an inch wide and 1.5 inches long.The egg masses are a buff yellow-brown color, likened to a manila folder, but may bleach out over the winter months. As the female lays them, she covers them with hair-like setae from her abdomen. The covering provides protection from predators and parasites and may be important for insulating the eggs from cold temperatures and sealing in moisture. Egg clusters contain from 100 to 1000 eggs.