| Bagworm Moths (Psychidae sp. (Boisduval, 1828)) |
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Scientific name: Psychidae sp. (Boisduval, 1828) Common name: Bagworm Moths French name: Psychés Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Microlepidoptera Family: Psychidae Subfamily: Wingspan: Females are wingless. Males generally have a wingspan of 10 to 15mm. The Hairy Sweep (Canephora hirsuta) is the largest species in mainland France with a wingspan of 25 to 30 mm. Biotope: Geographic area: More than 1000 species worldwide, around 100 in Europe and 71 in France. Flight time: Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: The caterpillars live in a silk protective case around which they collect various materials. The shape of the larval cases as well as the agglomerated materials can be useful in identifying species. The caterpillars pull their heads and legs out to move. Host plant: The caterpillars feed on various plants and lichens but also on small arthropods. |
Females do not emerge from their larval case. They pupate there, lay eggs after mating and die there. Some even die before laying eggs. Imagos have atrophied mouthparts and no proboscis. The males that emerge from the larval cases have a very short lifespan, just focused on mating for the reproduction of the species. Some species are capable of parthenogenesis, that is to say reproduction without male intervention. |
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This larval case, observed on a portal pillar, seems to be made up of small pieces of lichen and sand. Perhaps (but not sure) a specimen of the Dahlica genus, or even Dahlica lichenella. |
André Bon February 2024