Orgyia

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Orgyia \Or*gy"i*a\, prop. n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? the length of the
     outstretched arms. So named because, when at rest, it
     stretches forward its fore legs like arms.] (Zool.).
     A genus of bombycid moths whose caterpillars (esp. those of
     {Orgyia leucostigma}) are often very injurious to fruit trees
     and shade trees. The female is wingless. Called also {vaporer


     moth}.
     [1913 Webster]