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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

White-banded Kearfottia Moth - Hodges #0319 - Kearfottia albifasciella

White-banded Kearfottia Moth - Kearfottia albifasciella

What is this crazy looking thing on the black-eyed susan?

caterpillar ? emerging from 'wood' cocoon

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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