bagworm moth
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Psychidae
See also list of butterflies and moths.
bagworm moth, (family Psychidae), any of a family of about 1,350 species of insects that are found nearly worldwide and named for the baglike cases the larvae construct around themselves. The bag ranges in size from 6 to 152 mm (0.25 to 6 inches) and is constructed from silk and bits of leaves, twigs, and other debris. It is also used as a pupal case. Some bagworm species can be destructive pests to trees, especially evergreens.
The strong-bodied male moth emerges after metamorphosis with broad, fringed wings that have a wingspread averaging 2.5 cm (1 inch). The adult female lacks wings and, in most species, remains in her bag during mating, where she will also later deposit her eggs. Female evergreen bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) lay their eggs within their bags and then crawl out of the bags and fall to the ground, where they die.
(Keep exploring with Britannica’s photo list of “Insects That Wear Things.”)