structural:reformatting
Common name

In the species' native area, the English common name is (and remains) gypsy moth. In North America in July 2021, the Entomological Society of America announced it was delisting the common name gypsy moth as part of an effort to replace racist or otherwise offensive names, as Gypsy is considered an offensive slur by some in the North American Romani community. This led the Society to select a replacement name through a consultative process. In January 2022, they proposed the name spongy moth, in reference to the spongy mass of the egg casing. This new common name was formally adopted in North America in March 2022.