Bag Worms or Case Moths
(Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

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Bag worms or case moths (Psychidae) take their name from their bag- or case-bearing caterpillars. The mobile bags or cases are often tapered at both sides with an opening through which the caterpillar feeds. The cases are made from various materials such as leaves and sticks and are diagnostic of the species. During feeding, the caterpillars drag the case along the surface of a leaf. The pupa remains in the case, as do the adult females in some species. The adults are small. The bag worms of the genus Hyalarcta spp. and Eumeta spp. feed on Eucalyptus spp. The bag of a Hyalarcta sp. caterpillar on Eucalyptus torelliana is shown on the photo between the two fingers

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© Michael F. Schneider, 1999