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Common Bagworm Moth Case - Psyche casta
The cases of this species are commonly found on buildings. It was about 10 mm long and was made of longitudinally arranged bits of plant parts.
Bagworms are not really worms, but are caterpillars - they are the immature stage of a moth. They're called "bagworms" because they construct bags/cases that are covered with pieces of twigs and/or leaves. The caterpillars feed by sticking their heads out of the top of the bag and chewing on nearby leaves or lichens. They live in these bags until they pupate (also inside the bag). Males emerge a little earlier than females, leaving their bag and flying off in search of a mate. Females emerge eyeless, wingless, and legless! So, she remains in her bag, but emits a pheromone to alert males of her presence. Males locate the females and mate. Once mated, a female lays eggs and dies, leaving a bag full of eggs that will hatch the following spring.
Habitat: Attached to the side of an old shack in a mixed forest. You can see the pupal skin sticking out of the end a bit.
"Psyche casta" is a nocturnal moth from the family Psychidae, the bagworm moths. The wingspan of the males ranges from 12 to 15 millimeters. The females do not have wings. The host plants are from the groups: Poaceae, birch, willow, poplar and "Vaccinium". The caterpillars make a protective hull from grass. The flight time ranges from May to July.
