”pine cone” pod
Location: Southern MO (central), just north of AR
February 4, 2012 2:29 pm
Dear Mr. Bugman,
I have just moved into a new home and hanging from the shrubs outside are little pods about 2” long and 1” wide. They look just like a seed pod and I didn’t notice them at first until I found one hanging from my deck, attached with a type of silk.
Upon further inspection, I found tons of these little pods hanging from every shrub in the yard. I have attached a picture and am immensely curious as to what they are. If you could let me know, I would be quite grateful!
Signature: Alden
Bagworms
Hi Alden,
These are the cocoons of Bagworms, a species of moth in the family Psychidae. The caterpillars of the Bagworms begin life constructing a small bag which increases in size as the caterpillar grows. The caterpillar eventually pupates and overwinters in the bag. Female Bagworm moths are flightless and never leave their bags. See BugGuide for additional information.
¶ Posted 06 February 2012 § ‡ ° ”pine cone” cocoons in Pennsylvania
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
December 1, 2011 1:37 pm
Dear Bugman,
I noticed these mini pinecone-looking cocoons growing on the back of a stop sign by my work. Could you help me identify what creature created these cocoons? Thank you very much.
Signature: Kyle Helal
Bagworms
Dear Kyle,
You have noticed the cocoons of Bagworms, a family of moths whose caterpillars construct bags from silk and foliage. The caterpillar enlarges the bag as it grows, dragging around its home as it feeds. When it is time to metamorphose, the Bagworm retains its bag to house the pupa. Female Bagworm Moths are flightless and mate in their bags.
1
¶ Posted 02 January 2012 § ‡ ° Possibly bagworm, from Zambia
Location: Kasanka National Park, Zambia
December 11, 2011 10:52 am
Hello,
This creature was photographed in Kasanka National Park, Zambia. It was crawling on the hood of a stationary car, possibly fell down from an overhanging bush. Date: May 10, 2011.
Any idea, at least to genus? I’d be grateful. Thanks.
Signature: Monika Forner
Bagworm
Dear Monika,
That is sure one crazy looking Bagworm with its grassy bag. Bagworms generally create their bags from the foliage of the plants they feed upon. If you are able to identify the plant species it is feeding upon, it will facilitate a species identification for the Bagworm.
Bagworm
Strange leaf cocoon
Location: north side of house in Clifton VA (Fairfax)
September 13, 2011 12:51 pm
My husband took this photo today 9/12/11 at our home in Clifton, VA of a strang leaf cocoon located on a column in front of our door. It appears to be made of leaves. Can you identify it?
We have never seen it before.
On our front door I have 2 wreaths made of dry leaves that I think were used for this cocoon. It has been here for a few days.
Thanks much,
Signature: Camille W
Bagworm
Hi Camille,
This is the cocoon of a Bagworm. Bagworms are caterpillars in the family Psychidae, and they begin to construct a bag from plant material when they are quite small, adding to the bag as they grow. The Bagworms do not leave their bags, and eventually pupate in them. Female Bagworm moths are flightless and legless. The male mates with her inside the bag and she lays here eggs there as well. The female Bagworm truly never leaves her home. You may read more about Bagworms on BugGuide.
¶ Posted 14 September 2011 § ‡ ° unidentified bug
Location: Midwest North America
August 2, 2011 2:53 pm
Hi,
I am from Bradley, IL. It is the beginning of August and we have these little ”pods” or ”pine cone” looking sacks all over our pine tree in the back yard. They have a small ”worm like” animal inside and attach themselves to anything that is stationary. The outside of the ”pod” is camouflaged to match the berries on the tree.
Signature: Thanks, Anna
Evergreen Bagworm
Hi Anna,
We absolutely love that you have documented an Evergreen Bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (see BugGuide), that has incorporated berries into its bag. Bagworms are moth caterpillars that use leaves and twigs from the plants that they feed upon to construct a bag that protects them from predators and the elements. The Bagworm will eventually attach the bag to a stem, fence or wall, seal the bag and pupate inside. Only male Bagworm Moths have wings. Females are legless and wingless and they do not leave the bag. The male mates with an immobile female who then lays eggs in the bag as well.
¶ Posted 04 August 2011 § ‡ ° Stick-shelled beetlepillar
Location: Australia (Sydney Basin)
April 2, 2011 10:50 pm
My daughter found this wandering around my backyard. I’ve seen these before but always assumed they were a cocoon, rather than a sort of shell. This one has been around the backyard for at least a month as I have seen it hanging from trees, then mysteriously vanishing.
I also have video of it checking out the camera
Signature: Carey
Large Bagworm
Hi Carey,
This is a Bagworm in the family Psychidae, and we quickly identified it as a Large Bagworm or Saunder’s Case Moth, Metura elongatus, on the Brisbane Insect Website. The caterpillar forms a silken case containing plant material from its food plant that it remains in, eventually pupating inside of the case. The adult female is wingless and she never leaves her case, using pheromones to attract a mate. The Butterfly House website has images of the entire life cycle.
Thanks for that, my daughter was fascinated (so was I) to see
photographs of the adult moth.
Cheers
Carey
Bagworm or boxworm?
Location: Wadi Og, Israel
January 23, 2011 6:22 am
Hi WTB,
On my hiking trip this past weekend I came across this bagworm, Amicta quadrangularis, in Wadi Og, just south of Jericho. I think ’Boxworm’ is a more appropriate name, don’t you?
Signature: Ben, from Israel
Bagworm
Hi Ben,
Thanks so much for sending us your photo as well as identifying this unusual Bagworm.
¶ Posted 23 January 2011 § ‡ ° Inseto estranho
Location: Rerião norte do Brasil, Amazônia.
October 23, 2010 4:56 pm
Encontrei este inseto sob a copa de um pé de carambola. Estou na Amazônia, município de Ananindeua, estado do Pará, Brasil. Mês de outubro, verão amazônico. As fotos não estão muito boas. Minha camera, cannon Power Shot A460 está com um problema, com excesso de luz.
Signature: Paulo araujo
Bagworm
Ed Note: Translation by Google
Strange insect
Location: Rerião northern Brazil, the Amazon.
October 23, 2010 4:56 pm
I found this insect under the canopy of a foot carom. I’m in the Amazon city of Anand, Pará state, Brazil. October, Amazon summer. The photos are not very good. My camera, Cannon Power Shot A460 has a problem with excessive light.
Signature: Paul araujo
Hello Paulo,
This is a Bagworm, the caterpillar of a moth in the family Psychidae.
Muito obrigado pela resposta.
Abraços.
Translation by Google
Thank you for the reply.
Hugs.
¶ Posted 23 October 2010 § ‡ ° 
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