Sunday afternoon, July 25, 2021 I heard back from the Butterfly identification team. If only I had taken prompt action at the time. Here is the email:
From: Butterfly Identification Team <identifymybutterfly@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2021 3:06 PM
To: Michael Wills <msw8738@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Moth that emerged from cocoon today. Photo attached Hello,
It looks like a female Gypsy Moth and a cocoon for that same species. It is an invasive moth and huge pest, and it is found in your state. This year, northeastern states seem to be experiencing growth in the Gypsy Moth population.
Thank you for sharing your photos with us. The male looks different from the female and the faster it is identified, the better.
Sincerely,
ButterflyIdentification.org
Click photo to open a larger version in new browser tab. If you are in WordPress Reader, you need to open the full post to do this.
My photographs are now up on the butterfly identification site.
As noted in the first posting, I released the moth. I needed to take swift action last year: identify and remove egg clusters. This spring our legacy oaks, favored by Gypsy moths, were chewed up and the caterpillars, when landing on exposed skin, cause a nasty rash.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
That’s not good. But at least you know!❤️
Sent from my iPhone
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I will put out tanglefoot around the trees next year
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I am not scared of much but furry moths do it every time. Gah!
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A granddaughter surprised us with a similar reaction.
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I have stripped to my underwear in the garden when I saw a furry moth on my clothes, screaming like a madwoman….
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i always feel sorry for moths because of the light pollution we’ve created. this sentiment is of course regardless of whether or not they are considered pests.
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Gypsy moths are diurnal, active when the sun is above the horizon. Light pollution is a serious problem for sea turtles, most communities along beaches were turtles lay eggs have rules against light pollution.
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good to know!
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Like so many events, we live and learn.
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We have these here in Ontario. I have scrapped their eggs off a spruce tree and put bands of tape with vaseline smeared on them onto our heritage birch trees. So far I am not seeing any damage. Between these and the Japanese beetles it is a mad dash to stay ahead of these pests.
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Staying ahead is the key. Gypsy moths can defoliate trees if left to themselves for a few seasons. I use Milky Spore in the lawn to control Japanese beetles.
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I did that too this year..it seems to have helped and I also have traps with lures.
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