Good-bye Gypsy Moths

Well, not the moths. Just their name. 

According to an article in the Tree Health Management newsletter (the company that takes care of our trees), the Entomological Society of America announced last summer that they have removed the common name — Gypsy Moth — of this critter because of its derogatory nature. The ESA has introduced the Better Common Names Project to get community suggestions and input for new names. 

You can send your ideas for a new name for this pest here.

Comments

[Kris P]

All I could thing of was Le Rouge et le Noir by Stendhal and probably only because I vaguely remember having to read that book (in English) for a history class in high school. It wasn't a pleasant read as I recall.

[Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening]

It would be hard to think up a name for them that would not be derogatory.

[Linda Brazill]

KATHY — I think you're right. Hard to come up with a nice name for a pest one hates.​