Dahlica triquetrella (bagworm moth), Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands

Found on the forest floor hanging on a dead leaf. As there's only 24 species of "psychidae" known to occur in the Netherlands, I got to my tentative ID based on the bag's composition of materials (as well as shape). Dahlica triquetrella is described as having a light-colored case because it's main material is grains of sand (you can confirm this when zooming in). The secondary material are the remains of other insects, which are part of the diet.

The dutch common name for this species is "zandzakdrager" => sand bag carrier, referring to the case material.

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

AWESOME find, Ferdy! And, such a pretty case too. About how big was it? Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! I'd say about 1-1.5cm. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Impressive find for sure since it's so tiny!! Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      It was a lucky find, was kneeling down to look at an acorn and saw this thing twitching. I'm like a cat, I only see movement. Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Hehe! They say that people and their pets become more like each other with time. Or, maybe I just made that up, I'm not sure, but I think it's so true.
        
        What about the acorn? Posted 6 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Our cat and me are definitely merging into a single character. We have hundreds of little interactions, habits and ways to communicate without saying a single word. I hope I don't entirely share his selfish and lazy nature though :)
        
        The acorn I shall post soon, am a bit behind things. Posted 6 years ago

The Dahlica triquetrella

''Dahlica triquetrella'' is a bagworm moth of the Psychidae family. It is found in Europe and North America.

The wingspan is 9–13 mm for males. Females are wingless. Though winged males occur in some sites in Europe, only the parthenogenetic wingless female form of ''Dahlica triquetrella'' has been recorded in Britain. The adult lives a very short time.

The larvae feed on lichen and algae on trunks, rocks and old walls. This diet has to be supplemented by dead insects for.. more

Info 1 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant