bag worm
Hi bug man
We have identified this as a bag worm ( Thanks to your great site!) It has been hanging on our outside light fixture for about 6 months-it is starting to emerge from the bottom–what can you tell us about this and what will it do? Thanks,
Interested in bugs in Florida
Dear Interested,
If this is a female, and it does look to be a female, she will remain legless and wingless. She will emerge just far enough to mate with the winged male when he is attracted to her pheromones. She will then crawl back into her bag, lay eggs and die. Young caterpillars will hatch, disperse and form their own bags. If a male emerges, he will fly until he is attracted to a female.