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Common Bagworm Moth, Heesch, Netherlands As the name suggests, highly common, in fact the most common bagworm in the Netherlands. Still, I was thrilled to find it. In particular because the 1:1 macro lens I use in the field is a little short in magnification for this topic. <br /> <br /> I found it whilst peeking into my little pond in the garden, where in the corner of my eye I saw a little twig moving on its own on the garden floor. Subject size of the inner case is 8-12mm, yet individual building material may sometimes extend the total outside length.<br /> <br /> I only carefully pinned a twig that was part of the case, not the larvae itself. It&#039;s unharmed and released. <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95928/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_heesch_netherlands.html" title="Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae, Heesch, Netherlands"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/95928_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=RlNR1PWtXKYsQg4rvf%2FZc8po0Io%3D" width="200" height="146" alt="Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae, Heesch, Netherlands Although the result may not be that shocking, I&#039;m very happy with how this turned out as it&#039;s a very tricky shot. <br /> <br /> This is a lengthy subject (&gt; 1cm), which means when doing a frontal it is very deep. Given the tiny step size at 5x magnification (20-30 &mu;m), just getting the above limited depth of field is already a 100 photo stack. This in itself is fine, as it&#039;s a largely automated process.<br /> <br /> Much more problematic is the tiny focus distance between lens and subject. Which means I couldn&#039;t actually see the case entry or the larva. I didn&#039;t even know if it was in there, or where exactly. It&#039;s equally difficult to get any light directed exactly into the case entry, as you just don&#039;t have room to maneuver. <br /> <br /> Hence I was happily surprised to see the larva at all in the end result. You can actually see it twice, as it moved during the stacking process. I could have Photoshopped that away, but decided to keep it.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95929/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_crop_heesch_netherlands.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95927/common_bagworm_moth_heesch_netherlands.html Common Bagworm Moth,Extreme Macro,Psyche casta,WeMacro" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95929/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_crop_heesch_netherlands.html" title="Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae crop, Heesch, Netherlands"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/95929_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=Rj6%2FxZ4GhbvkPPfZQ30BYzQL0aQ%3D" width="200" height="146" alt="Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae crop, Heesch, Netherlands Although the result may not be that shocking, I&#039;m very happy with how this turned out as it&#039;s a very tricky shot. <br /> <br /> This is a lengthy subject (&gt; 1cm), which means when doing a frontal it is very deep. Given the tiny step size at 5x magnification (20-30 &mu;m), just getting the above limited depth of field is already a 100 photo stack. This in itself is fine, as it&#039;s a largely automated process.<br /> <br /> Much more problematic is the tiny focus distance between lens and subject. Which means I couldn&#039;t actually see the case entry or the larva. I didn&#039;t even know if it was in there, or where exactly. It&#039;s equally difficult to get any light directed exactly into the case entry, as you just don&#039;t have room to maneuver. <br /> <br /> Hence I was happily surprised to see the larva at all in the end result. You can actually see it twice, as it moved during the stacking process. I could have Photoshopped that away, but decided to keep it.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95928/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_heesch_netherlands.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95927/common_bagworm_moth_heesch_netherlands.html Common Bagworm Moth,Extreme Macro,Psyche casta" /></a></figure> Extreme Macro,Psyche casta,WeMacro Click/tap to enlarge

Common Bagworm Moth, Heesch, Netherlands

As the name suggests, highly common, in fact the most common bagworm in the Netherlands. Still, I was thrilled to find it. In particular because the 1:1 macro lens I use in the field is a little short in magnification for this topic.

I found it whilst peeking into my little pond in the garden, where in the corner of my eye I saw a little twig moving on its own on the garden floor. Subject size of the inner case is 8-12mm, yet individual building material may sometimes extend the total outside length.

I only carefully pinned a twig that was part of the case, not the larvae itself. It's unharmed and released.

Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae, Heesch, Netherlands Although the result may not be that shocking, I'm very happy with how this turned out as it's a very tricky shot. <br /> <br /> This is a lengthy subject (> 1cm), which means when doing a frontal it is very deep. Given the tiny step size at 5x magnification (20-30 μm), just getting the above limited depth of field is already a 100 photo stack. This in itself is fine, as it's a largely automated process.<br /> <br /> Much more problematic is the tiny focus distance between lens and subject. Which means I couldn't actually see the case entry or the larva. I didn't even know if it was in there, or where exactly. It's equally difficult to get any light directed exactly into the case entry, as you just don't have room to maneuver. <br /> <br /> Hence I was happily surprised to see the larva at all in the end result. You can actually see it twice, as it moved during the stacking process. I could have Photoshopped that away, but decided to keep it.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95929/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_crop_heesch_netherlands.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95927/common_bagworm_moth_heesch_netherlands.html Common Bagworm Moth,Extreme Macro,Psyche casta,WeMacro

Common Bagworm Moth - Larvae crop, Heesch, Netherlands Although the result may not be that shocking, I'm very happy with how this turned out as it's a very tricky shot. <br /> <br /> This is a lengthy subject (> 1cm), which means when doing a frontal it is very deep. Given the tiny step size at 5x magnification (20-30 μm), just getting the above limited depth of field is already a 100 photo stack. This in itself is fine, as it's a largely automated process.<br /> <br /> Much more problematic is the tiny focus distance between lens and subject. Which means I couldn't actually see the case entry or the larva. I didn't even know if it was in there, or where exactly. It's equally difficult to get any light directed exactly into the case entry, as you just don't have room to maneuver. <br /> <br /> Hence I was happily surprised to see the larva at all in the end result. You can actually see it twice, as it moved during the stacking process. I could have Photoshopped that away, but decided to keep it.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95928/common_bagworm_moth_-_larvae_heesch_netherlands.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95927/common_bagworm_moth_heesch_netherlands.html Common Bagworm Moth,Extreme Macro,Psyche casta

    comments (5)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Cool!! Posted 5 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks! I'm particularly intrigued by their building "plan". This case always looks similar across individuals, so it's not random. I can imagine the point of the tiny bits, to make a firm structure. But why always these lengthy sticks to the sides? Perhaps to glide as it moves? Like a primitive "wheel"? Posted 5 years ago
      1. View Christine Young's profile
        Christine Young
        Lion
        View Lion class
        I find it fascinating as well. If I was a bagworm, I'd get 1/10th of the way done and give up. Too tedious.

        I too would assume that the long side sticks are simply to reduce friction. It's probably easier to glide a wormy body along the length of the sticks rather than across tiny, bumpy bits.         Posted 5 years ago
        1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
          Ferdy Christant
          Lion
          View Lion class
          1/10th would not qualify you for bag worm, that would be just worm. Posted 5 years ago
          1. View Christine Young's profile
            Christine Young
            Lion
            View Lion class
            Haha! I'd be a bagless bagworm...So, a rebel. Posted 5 years ago

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The Common Bagworm Moth

"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.

Info 15 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jun 18, 2020. Captured May 19, 2020 21:17.
country flag of Netherlands Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0
  • NIKON D850
  • f/1.2
  • 1/100s
  • ISO64
  • 50mm

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