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Carol Rollins | all galleries >> Animal Life >> A Bug's World > Bagworm Moth - Southeastern Arizona
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07-SEP-2010 C Breton

Bagworm Moth - Southeastern Arizona

Texas Canyon, Dragoon, Arizona

Five Pictures.
I had no idea what this was I was watching on my morning walk until I came home and looked it up.

According to Peterson's Guide on Caterpillars:

"Bagworm eggs hatch inside the protective case where they were laid. The young caterpillar comes
out to feed and build its own individual case or bag made of its own silk and bits of plant material
from the host plant. (The host plant in this case is Arizona Buckwheat). While inside the bag it
can move about the food plant. The larva feeds at the upright end of the bag as it grows up to two
inches long. (This bag is one inch long). The mature larva pupates inside the bag. If it is a
female the wingless, legless adult never emerges. The male emerges to mate by finding females
inside their bag through scent."

Peterson's Guide also names the range of the "Evergreen Bagworm Moth" as from Massachusetts to
Florida and west to Nebraska and Texas. I sent these pics to Bugguide.net to find out what species
this one is as I have found no reference to Arizona.




Canon EOS 30D
1/3200s f/11.0 at 150.0mm iso282 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Nestor Derkach10-Oct-2013 14:33
A very nice image but a very damaging bagworm.
We lost a pine tree thinking these were some kind of pine cone growth.
This close up is excellent.
We now know different , probably a different species but looks very similar.
Jeanne Dammarell30-Nov-2010 20:56
How cool is that!!!! Great shots, Carol, and such an interesting moth. I've heard the name but never seen the creature nor heard about the life cycle before. Thank you for researching and sharing it with the rest of us.
Hernan E. Enriquez05-Nov-2010 15:21
Amazing shots Carol!
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)04-Nov-2010 06:33
Top catch! BV
Paolo
waterfalls man14-Sep-2010 02:33
Excellent V!!
Chad Ramsey11-Sep-2010 00:00
Hope you squished it! These are very destructive and hang all over the trees here. Nice shots! V
Char09-Sep-2010 13:22
This is so unusual and interesting, Carol! Thanks for sharing!
larose forest photos09-Sep-2010 13:09
Oh wow, Carol!!! How fabulous! I have many times seen these little cases (different from yours as every one I have seen has been on leaves) but never had the chance to see the caterpillar emerge. Well done! You have captured this remarkable sequence beautifully!!!!

Big Vote
LynnH09-Sep-2010 11:41
This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while! BV+
Neal Nye09-Sep-2010 11:09
A fascinating creature, so well presented. I've looked at all the photos I missed over the past two weeks, and while I didn't comment on them I enjoyed every one. Terrific work!
NealyBob09-Sep-2010 09:32
Excellent series Carol! Thanks for the info! I would have never guessed what you captured!
Bob White09-Sep-2010 07:14
Interesting looking Moth certainly wouldn't win a beauty contest but very interesting and you have captured it well ...v
Bryan Murahashi09-Sep-2010 05:12
Fantastic captures of this unique moth and its environment.
January Grey09-Sep-2010 04:39
Fascinating information & an incredible series, Carol!!
Sam Rua09-Sep-2010 04:39
Very cool find, Carol. That first image is great.
Cindi Smith09-Sep-2010 03:41
They are a problem here in Texas. A lot of trees die because of them. A great show you have captured here!
hge5409-Sep-2010 01:33
Amazing documentary. I've never seen anything like it.
s_barbour09-Sep-2010 01:06
Terrific documentary work Carol...very fascinating!
Hank Vander Velde09-Sep-2010 00:13
Terrific images and description Carol. I've never seen this before. Thanks for sharing.
Katie Chew08-Sep-2010 22:56
Excellent!!! V
Colin Storey08-Sep-2010 22:32
What a fantastic series of shots and wonderful detailed words about them.
Guest 08-Sep-2010 21:28
Very well photographed and very interesting information.
Walter Otto Koenig08-Sep-2010 21:24
Very cool images and fascinating images. I've never seen this before.
Jim Coffman08-Sep-2010 21:19
I have never heard of a bagworm moth! Nice series,Carol!
Ghislaine et Réal Boulet08-Sep-2010 21:03
Very interesting.
Patricia Kay08-Sep-2010 20:52
Wonderful images and info Carol...
Stephanie08-Sep-2010 20:28
Fascinating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bill friedlander08-Sep-2010 19:50
Thanks for the description of this unusual insect. I would never have known what I was looking at. Nice series of shots showing the details this extraordinary moth.
Jaime González08-Sep-2010 19:47
Wonderful capture. Really a fascinating moth, thanks for the info. -V-
Guest 08-Sep-2010 19:42
Beautiful and interesting image, well done Carol! V
Simon Chandler08-Sep-2010 19:38
Intriguing. Beautifully captured. v
Luc Verfaillie08-Sep-2010 16:38
Excellent..V
marie-jose wolff08-Sep-2010 16:16
wonderful closeup! V
Milan Vogrin08-Sep-2010 15:56
Almost abstract!V!
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