Bag

Have you found a little caterpillar in a sleeping bag made of twigs or dirt? If yes, then you have found one of the world’s smallest architects, the wonderful bagworm moth.

The caterpillar larvae construct cases out of silk and environmental materials such as sand, soil, lichen, or plant materials. These cases can be found attached to rocks, trees or fences while resting or during their pupa stage, but sometimes you can see these little “homes” moving around as the insect searches for food.

Adult females spend their entire lives inside their bags and are wingless and do not look like a typical adult moth. Adult males have wings and emerge from their bags as freely flying moths that are hairy and dark in colour, with membranous wings.