[citation needed] The adult female, which is wingless, either emerges from the case long enough for breeding or remains in the case while the male extends his abdomen into the female's case to breed. Bagworm moths make their homes in many types of trees, especially cedar trees. It is also used as a pupal case. The bagworms belong to the superfamily Tineoidea, which is a basal lineage of the Ditrysia (as is Gelechioidea, which includes case-bearers). Larvae may hibernate during the winter and resume feeding in the spring before pupation. Birds often eat the egg-laden bodies of female bagworms after they have died. The adult males of most species are strong fliers with well-developed wings and feathery antennae but survive only long enough to reproduce due to underdeveloped mouthparts that prevent them from feeding. Trees infested with bagworms exhibit increasingly damaged foliage as the infestation increases until the leaves are stripped bare. The damage caused to evergreen trees and shrubs is often the most notable. Their … Larvae crawl to nearby plants and their bags can be seen hanging on trees that they feed on. With few predators in urban areas, the Evergreen Bagworm Moth often thrives in those habitats as well. [citation needed] Some bagworms are specialized in their host plants (monophagous), while others can feed on a variety of plant species (polyphagous). The Alucitidae or many-plumed moths are a family of moths with unusually modified wings.Both fore- and hind-wings consist of about six rigid spines, from which radiate flexible bristles creating a structure similar to a bird's feather.. We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. And since the cases are composed of materials from their habitat, they are naturally camouflaged from predators such as birds and other insects. 45. This pest rarely builds up large populations in foreste… Family: Micropterigidae. As larvae, the silky worms find a place to settle down and feed, such as a leaf or the branch of a tree. Once the case is built, only adult males ever leave the case, never to return, when they take flight to find a mate. [3], Since bagworm cases are composed of silk and the materials from their habitat, they are naturally camouflaged from predators. After hatching they immediately spin a small 1/8 inclh long cocoon-like bag to which are attached pieces of leaves from the plants they feed upon. When it comes to pine trees, their sacks are mistaken for actual small pine cones. The larva is also transported to nearby plants by wind. The female moth will lay her eggs and then plug the bottom hole to protect the eggs. Excessive defoliation of these conifers may cause entire plant death during the following season. The bagworm caterpillars dine upon the upper epidermis area of the hosts and often make holes in the leaves. This means that the bagworms and case-bearers are only as closely related to each other as either is to butterflies (Rhopalocera). In heavily forested areas, large populations are rare. Some bagworms are specialized in their host plants (monophagous), while others can feed on a variety of plant species (polyphagous). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When satiated with leaves, a bagworm caterpillar secures its case and pupates. The family Psychidae is distributed widely in North, South, and Central America between Banff, Canada to the southern tip of Argentina (Davis 1964). Almost 1,000 species worldwide; larvae live and pupate in often elaborate cases; adult males with broad, thin scaled wings; females wingless, often greatly degenerate and never leaving larval cases. The world is full of wonders and strange ways of life. If detected early, picking the cases from the trees while in their pupa stage is an effective way to check an infestation; otherwise, insecticides are used. Bagworm larvae are often destructive to trees, especially evergreens. Common name: Case Moth, Bagworm Moth. The larvae of the caterpillar / moth Bagworm moth builds miniature moving shelters, collecting small twigs, which will live until it becomes an adult moth. Massachusetts south to Florida and west to Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. A few species also consume small arthropods (such as the camphor scale Pseudaonidia duplex, a scale insect). The female evergreen bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) dies without laying eggs, and the larval bagworm offspring emerge from the parent's body. Test what you know about bugs with this quiz. Not quite — what may look like a meticulous assortment of twigs is actually the home of a bagworm moth. Each bagworm generation lives just long enough as adults to mate and reproduce in their annual cycle. Another common name for the Psychidae is "case moths", but this is just as well used for the case-bearers (Coleophoridae). Edward L. Mills. More specialized species exhibit a greater variety of case size, shape, and composition, usually narrowing on both ends. Potter, Extension Entomologist, The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. And often these wonderful ways of life do something unimaginable. Adult females of many bagworm species have only vestigial wings, legs, and mouthparts. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/bagworm-moth. Effects of larval case size, host plant species, and ambient temperature on case internal temperatures in the bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Each bag can be up to 1½–2½ inches (38–63 millimeters, mm) long when the larva is mature. The "evergreen" bagworm cocoon (~ 2 inches long) can be found on many evergreen and non-evergreen plants. The bag is made of silk and bits of host foliage. Some larvae, such as those of the green measuring worm moths (family Geometridae), attach bits of leaves or flower…. In the U.S., bagworms range from Massachusetts south to Florida, and west to Texas and Nebraska. Arborvitae and red cedar are the favored host plants for the Evergreen Bagworm Moth. Bagworm control starts with understanding the worm itself. Butterflies and Moths of Virginia Showcase listing of Butterflies and Moths found in the state of Virginia. Scientific Name: Epimartyria auricrinella. The bagworm Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis belongs to the Order Lepidoptera although the females never develop wings and spend their entire lives inside their cases. However, a few species can become more serious pests, and have caused significant damage e.g. Female evergreen bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) lay their eggs within their bags and then crawl out of the bags and fall to the ground, where they die. Hibernated eggs may hatch as early as February. In the larval stage, bagworms extend their head and thorax from their mobile case to devour the leaves of host plants, often leading to the death of their hosts. Body markings are rare. The subfamilies of Psychidae, with some notable genera and species also listed, are: "Bagworm" redirects here. The larvae of some species eat lichen, while others prefer green leaves. Scientific name(s): Family Psychidae – over 1300 known species worldwide, and 350 in Australia. L.H. Bagworm moth, (family Psychidae), any of a family of insects (order Lepidoptera) that are found worldwide and named for the baglike cases the larvae construct around themselves. Bagworms life cycle are differentiated into separate stages, much like any other organism. Some bagworm species are parthenogenetic, meaning their eggs develop without male fertilization. 1990. The larvae of some species eat lichen, while others prefer green leaves. The eggs will spend the winter in the bag before hatching in the spring. When the larva is mature, the bag may be 30 to 50 mm long. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. Moderate defoliation is unsightly. The moth is one of the Bagworm Moths (Family Psychidae). The caterpillars are greenish or reddish-gray with a black head. Adults are wingless and nearly legless moths. to wattle (Acacia mearnsii) in South Africa and orange (Citrus × sinensis) in Florida. Omissions? The caterpillar, inside its silken case, bites through the stem to which the case is attached. The bagworm family is fairly small, with about 1,350 species[2] described. Bagworm species are found globally, with some, such as the snailcase bagworm (Apterona helicoidella), in modern times settling continents where they are not native. In North America, the bagworm is distributed throughout the eastern United States to Nebraska and as far north as southern Michigan in the Midwest U.S. (Rhainds and Fagan 2010). Bagworms live anywhere suitable host plants are available, especially forests or landscapes with cedar, juniper, or arborvitae. The Psychidae (bagworm moths, also simply bagworms or bagmoths) are a family of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). This is a small family, with about a global total of 210 species described to date (though it is likely that some undescribed species remain to be discovered). You can donate to support this project at any time. Bagworms are slow spreading because the female doesn’t fly around. Most bagworms are inoffensive to humans and not at all conspicuous; some are occasional nuisance pests. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Also known as the Evergreen Bagworm, this pest is a common problem in landscape plants and urban forests throughout the eastern and central states. The caterpillar forms a silken case containing plant material from its food plant that it remains in, eventually pupating inside of the case. Trees infested with bagworms exhibit increasingly damaged foliage as the infestation increases until the leaves are stripped bare. Bagworm Control, Photos and Video from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Indonesia Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bagworm_moth&oldid=999890871, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from June 2020, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2018, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 13:29. Size. When the female is ready to mate, she exposes the glands and disperses the…, Psychidae (bagworms) They are easiest to identify by the bags they construct as they feed. Which of these insects includes a “slave-maker” that bites the head off the resident queen? These bug architects spend most of their short lives weaving homes out of plant debris. In the larval stage, bagworms extend their head and thorax from their mobile case to devour the leaves of host plants, often leading to the death of their hosts. Numbers. This pest is native to North America. How to Get Rid of Bagworms: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Note: Please understand that that insects do not adhere to man-drawn borders on a map as such they may be found beyond the general "reach" as showcased on our website. The caterpillar larvae of the Psychidae construct cases out of silk and environmental materials such as sand, soil, lichen, or plant materials. Source(s): M.F. Cases among the more primitive species are flat. [4] Females lay their eggs in their case and die. Then she will either die in the sac or drop down from the sac and die after reaching the ground. Bagworm cases range in size from less than 1 cm to 15 cm among some tropical species. The caterpillar larvae of the Psychidae construct cases out of silk and environmental materials such as sand, soil, lichen, or plant materials. The bag ranges in size from 6 to 152 mm (0.25 to 6 inches) and is constructed from silk and bits of leaves, twigs, and other debris. Updates? Here is a glimpse into the various Bagworm life stages – The eggs of Bagworm moths hatch in end of May and beginning of June. Bagworm Moth (Psychidae): These moths are of a family of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) with about 1,350 known species found globally. Corrections? Wingspan 17-36 mm ( 1) Bags may grow to 50 mm ( 2) Range. A species of the desert bagworm (O. townsendi) is found from El Paso to Alpine and in the Trans-Pecos area.