Family Psychidae (Psychids, Bagworm Moths)

Description of Psychidae

The Psychidae are a group of small to medium-sized moths that are members of the Superfamily Tineiodea. Female adults of most species lack wings or have very small and non-functional wings. Males are typically black and their wingspan is 1.2-3.6 cm. The abdomen of these moths is long and tapering. Adults of both sexes have vestigal mouth parts. In some species, females entirely lack eyes, antennae, and legs. Larvae form characteristic spindle-shaped silken cases covered with bits of leaves, twigs, and other debris. Each larva enlarges its case as it grows. These moths pupate in the larval case after it is attached to a twig with silk. In most species, the female does not leave the case, but attracts males by emitting pheromones from her abdomen. To mate, the male thrusts his abdomen through the open lower end of the case. The female lays her eggs in the case; when they hatch, larvae crawl away to feed and form their own silken cases.

Subfamily:

Dahlica triquetrella (Hübner, 1812)

Subfamily: Oiketicinae (Oiketicines)

Oiketicus abbotii Abbot's Bagworm Moth (Grote, 1880)

Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis Evergreen Bagworm Moth (Haworth, 1803)

Subfamily: Psychinae (Psychine Moths)

Astala confederata (Grote & Robinson, 1868)

Basicladus tracyi (Jones, 1911)

Cryptothelea gloverii (Packard, 1869)

Cryptothelea nigrita Nigrita Bagworm Moth (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913)

Psyche casta Common Bagworm Moth (Pallas, 1767)

Taleporia walshella Clemens, 1862

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Description of Psychidae

Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Subfamily:

Subfamily: Oiketicinae (Oiketicines)

Subfamily: Psychinae (Psychine Moths)

Thank you!

Photographs of Psychidae

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Dahlica triquetrella

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Abbot's Bagworm Moth
Oiketicus abbotii

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Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Family Psychidae (Psychids, Bagworm Moths)

Subfamily:

Subfamily: Oiketicinae (Oiketicines)

Subfamily: Psychinae (Psychine Moths)

Thank you!

Photographs of Psychidae

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm MothThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Abbot's Bagworm MothOiketicus abbotii

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis

Abbot's Bagworm Moth
Oiketicus abbotii