Bagworm larvae - Psyche casta

Moved

… Charley Eiseman, 10 February, 2009 - 11:18pm

Location

The other P. casta are consistent with a radiation out of Boston, but this one is way out West disconnected from the main range.

… John F. Carr, 14 February, 2009 - 5:47pm

Yes--

I noticed that, and was a little uneasy about it, although introduced species do have a way of jumping coasts. Astala confederatra is an eastern species, and there aren't really any native ones in Washington that are similar.

… Charley Eiseman, 14 February, 2009 - 5:59pm

Well...

in the Stokes Guide to Observing Insect Lives, there's a drawing that looks just like this, and he says it's Eurycyttarus confederata. Nomina Nearctica lists an Astala confederatra, which must be the same thing. I don't know if that's the currently accepted name, or if that's the only one that looks like this, but I intend to investigate this sometime in the next few months--there are only 26 bagworm species in North America, so if the larvae have all been described, it should be possible to sort them out.

… Charley Eiseman, 15 August, 2008 - 12:06am

bagworm larvae

these guys are very common at my residence, and I live in a heavily forested ecosystem with a predominance of alder, maple, fir, and cedar.

… Kevin H. Wirth, 23 October, 2014 - 10:26am

It would be great if you could rear some

It appears that there are still no confirmed records of P. casta from anywhere near you (MPG).

… Charley Eiseman, 23 October, 2014 - 10:45am

Now confirmed in British Columbia.

Recently updated Checklist of the Lepidoptera of BC (2015) includes Psyche casta and notes that it has been collected in the Vancouver area recently. Several specimens from Vancouver, BC, now confirmed on BOLD. Have just posted old photo of ours from Vancouver Island taken in 2007:

Astala confederata isn't on the BC list.

… Libby & Rick Avis, 20 February, 2017 - 12:28pm