If you live in a place where a moth known by the scientific name Lymantria dispar known as the gypsy moth did damage last summer, you probably can’t forget it.
In the first significant outbreak in many years, the caterpillars munched their way through wide swaths of forest in Vermont and other northeastern states in 2021. Entire hillsides were stripped of foliage, looking like some post-apocalyptic summer stick season. Vermont officials documented more than 50,000 acres of defoliation using aerial surveillance.
Beyond that, according to reports, this invasive moth responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars of damage has a new name. Up until now, this moth’s common name contained a derogatory term for Romani people, considered a racial slur.
The insect formerly known as the “gypsy moth” will now go by the common name “spongy moth,” the Entomological Society of America announced Wednesday. It is the first name change, along with the retirement of the name “gypsy ant,” that the organization governing the study of insects in the United States has implemented as part of its Better Common Names Project.
The word “gypsy” is considered a derogatory term by many Romani people, and “spongy” was chosen as the new descriptor due to the spongelike masses of eggs the moth lays.
Although the ESA and the scientific community are happy with the moth’s new name, many people find it bizarre that it is being changed after so many years.
One person was particularly outraged, writing on Twitter: “You f***heads are really something… Gypsy Moth is offensive now, and spongy moth is its new name… please for the love of everything stooooppppp!!!!!!”
“Just read the Gypsy moth name has changed to the Spongy moth. I guess we were offending Gypsies,” one person tweeted.
Another person suggested that the name change would not do too much good for the gypsy community in the long run, tweeting: “Here’s your congratulatory cookie. You have now put an end to injustice and hatred by a simple name change. Smfh.”
More from AWM:
Ware is glad that the new name is already making headway. The new name refers to how the moth creates “sponge-like” egg sacks. The name comes from France and French-speaking Canada, who refer to it as “spongieuse.” The moth’s new name no longer has the racist implication and will now be the official moniker of the critter when spoken about in articles, scientific journals, presentations, posters, websites, social media, and public policy documents, the ESA said
“‘Spongy moth’ is already beginning to appear in media stories and other online resources, which we’re excited to see. But we know this name change won’t happen overnight,” Ware says. “Particularly in books or print products, or regulations related to L. dispar, phasing in use of the new name may take some time. ESA will continue to provide supporting resources for organizations adopting this change.”
The name change for the gypsy moth comes as society is re-examining racist language and symbols in light of the police killing of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that have followed. Confederate monuments have been toppled, “Redskins” has been dropped as the name of Washington’s NFL team, and “Dixie” is no longer the name of a popular song at baseball games.
Source: AWM
