Subject: Pinecone-like Cocoon
Location: Jacksonville, FL
August 27, 2015
Hi Bugman,
Today I found this
2 1/2″ long cocoon on a cedar tree. It’s a brilliantly designed and constructed little pinecone-like structure. (It also reminds me of a log cabin.)
Would you please identify it for me?
Thank you,
L Welch
Dear L Welch,
This is the cocoon of a Bagworm, a species of moth in the family Psychidae. A Bagworm Caterpillar constructs a shelter from silk and bits of the plants upon which it is feeding, enlarging the bag as the caterpillar grows. The caterpillar never leaves the bag, and eventually pupates inside the bag. Your Bagworm is in the pupal stage, as it is no longer mobile.