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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Tubeworm, Bagworm, and Clothes Moths (Tineoidea) » Bagworm Moths (Psychidae)

Family Psychidae - Bagworm Moths

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
bagworm - Oiketicus abbotii Odd Puparium Larva 2892 Cryptothelea nigrita moth - Kearfottia Bagworm Moth Cocoon Bagworm Insect with case
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Tineoidea (Tubeworm, Bagworm, and Clothes Moths)
Family Psychidae (Bagworm Moths)
Numbers
28 species in 14 genera in our area (1).
Size
Male wingspan 12 - 36 mm
Identification
Adult females are either wingless or have only little vestigial stubs where wings should be. Males are usually black and unmarked.(2)

Larvae (bagworms) construct elaborate little cases around themselves of plant debris and other organic matter.

, ,
Range
cosmopolitan
Food
Larvae of some species eat lichen, whereas others prefer green leaves of a hostplant (usually a deciduous or coniferous tree).
Adults do not feed.
Life Cycle
Larvae (bagworms) construct spindle-shaped bags covered with pieces of twigs, leaves, etc., and remain in them -- enlarging the bags as they grow -- until they pupate (also in the bag). Adult females remain in the bag, emitting pheromones which attract adult males to mate with them.

See

Eggs are laid inside the bag, and when they hatch the larvae crawl away to begin construction of their own individual cases.

Some bagworm species are parthenogenetic; their eggs hatch without being fertilized.
Remarks
Family PSYCHIDAE
Subfamily Naryciinae
2 genera in North America: Dahlica, Kearfottia
,
Subfamily Oiketicinae
3 genera in North America: Apterona, Oiketicus, Thyridopteryx
, , , , , , ,
Subfamily Psychinae
8 genera in North America: Astala, Basicladus, Coloneura, Cryptothelea, Hyaloscotes, Prochalia, Psyche, Zamopsyche
,
Subfamily Taleporiinae
1 genus in North America: Siederia
Print References
Davis, D. R. 1964. Bagworm moths of the Western Hemisphere (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). USNM Bulletin 244: 1-233 (3)
Internet References
pinned adult images of 6 species by Jim Vargo, plus photos of related species/families (Moth Photographers Group)
overview of family (Wikipedia)
Works Cited
1.Annotated taxonomic checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico
Pohl, G.R., Patterson, B., & Pelham, J.P. 2016. ResearchGate.net.
2.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.
3.Bagworm Moths of the Western Hemisphere
Donald R. Davis. 1964. Smithsonian Institution.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, john and jane balaban, Robin McLeod, anitagould, Randy Hardy, Kyhl Austin
Last updated 4 January, 2017 - 10:25pm

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