Promoted
Leaf Bagworm
This little home keeps the Leaf Case moth larva safe. The larva lives in a silken case, to which it attaches leaf or twigs as a covering. They feed on the leaves of many different plants and the leaves covering their bags therefore consists of different plant materials.
They can be found on most kinds of trees - this one seen on Metrosideros thomasii. The female adult is wingless and never leaves her case. The male is black in colour with transparent wings and dark antennae.
This delightful structure was just 10mm in height.
Hyalarcta huebneri is a common casemoth (bagworm) found in south eastern Australia. It is usually seen in larval form in a case made of silk and the vegetative material most readily available, and is quite adaptable to various plant species. In early stages they exist head-down in the case but as they get larger they will invert and move around head-up.
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