Psychidae
Guides
Apterona helicoidella
snailcase bagworm
A bagworm moth native to Europe that constructs a distinctive helical, snail-like case. The species was accidentally introduced to North America in the 1940s and has since established populations across multiple U.S. regions. Adults are reduced or absent in females, which retain a larval form and remain within their cases.
Astala
bagworm moth
Astala is a genus of bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, established by Davis in 1964. The genus contains approximately seven described species. As members of Psychidae, Astala species are characterized by larval cases constructed from silk and environmental materials such as plant debris, twigs, or sand.
Astala confederata
Confederate Microbagworm
Astala confederata is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, commonly known as the Confederate Microbagworm. The species was described by Grote and Robinson in 1868. As a member of the Psychidae, males are winged and free-living as adults, while females remain in their larval cases and are flightless. The specific epithet 'confederata' likely references the Confederate States of America, reflecting the 1868 description date during the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War.
Basicladus
Basicladus is a genus of bagworm moths (family Psychidae) described by Davis in 1964. The genus belongs to the subfamily Psychinae and is characterized by distinctive larval case construction. Information on this genus remains limited, with only five observations documented on iNaturalist.
Basicladus celibata
Basicladus celibata is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, described by Jones in 1922. Like all Psychidae, the larval stage constructs a portable case from silk and environmental materials. Adult males are winged; females are typically wingless and remain in the larval case. The species is poorly documented in modern literature, with no verified observations in major biodiversity databases.
Basicladus tracyi
Basicladus tracyi is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, described by Jones in 1911. As a member of the Psychidae, the larvae construct protective cases from silk and environmental materials. The species is part of the genus Basicladus, which contains North American bagworm moths.
Cryptothelea nigrita
Negrita Bagworm Moth
Cryptothelea nigrita is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. The species is known from North America, with observations documented through citizen science platforms. As with other Psychidae, the larvae construct protective cases from silk and environmental materials. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism typical of the family, with winged males and flightless females.
Dahlica
bagworm moth
Dahlica is a genus of bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, subfamily Naryciinae. The genus was established by Enderlein in 1912 and includes several described species, most notably Dahlica triquetrella, a small and inconspicuous species often mistaken for debris. Species in this genus construct protective cases from silk and environmental materials, with Dahlica triquetrella building cases that resemble small bits of dirt or wood rather than the prominent plant-covered cases of larger bagworm species. The subgenus Postsolenobia within Dahlica has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision using DNA barcoding, revealing unexpected patterns of genetic diversity among its five validly described taxa.
Dahlica lichenella
Lichen Case-bearer
Dahlica lichenella is a bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, commonly known as the Lichen Case-bearer. The species is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America. Males have a wingspan of 13–16 mm and are active in early spring, while females are flightless and remain within their larval cases throughout their adult lives. Larvae construct small, inconspicuous cases from lichen fragments and other debris, often going unnoticed due to their cryptic appearance.
Dahlica triquetrella
Narrow Lichen Bagworm, Narrow Lichen Case-bearer
Dahlica triquetrella is a small bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, notable for its distinctive triangular larval case and unusual reproductive biology. The species exists in both sexual and parthenogenetic forms, with the latter being far more widespread. Sexual populations are restricted to isolated glacial refugia in Central Europe, while parthenogenetic populations span much of Europe and have been introduced to North America. The species is specialized on lichen-feeding and is often overlooked due to the small size and cryptic appearance of its larval cases.
Eucoloneura fragilis
Eucoloneura fragilis is a small bagworm moth species in the family Psychidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1916. The species belongs to the subfamily Oiketicinae, which includes case-making moths whose larvae construct portable protective cases from silk and plant material. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only six documented occurrences in citizen science databases. The specific epithet 'fragilis' suggests delicate or fragile characteristics, though the precise basis for this name is not documented in available sources.
Hyaloscotes
Hyaloscotes is a genus of bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, described by Butler in 1881. As members of the subfamily Oiketicinae, these moths are characterized by the construction of portable larval cases from silk and environmental materials. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited species-level descriptions and biological data available. Observations on iNaturalist suggest ongoing but infrequent documentation of these insects.
Hyaloscotes fumosa
Hyaloscotes fumosa is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, described by Butler in 1881. As a member of the Oiketicinae subfamily, it belongs to a group of moths whose larvae construct portable cases from silk and environmental materials. The genus Hyaloscotes is characterized by males with reduced, non-functional mouthparts and females that are typically wingless or have vestigial wings. The specific epithet 'fumosa' (smoky) likely refers to coloration characteristics of the adult male.
Hyaloscotes pithopoera
Hyaloscotes pithopoera is a species of bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, described by Dyar in 1923. The species belongs to the subfamily Oiketicinae, whose larvae construct portable cases from silk and environmental materials. As with other Psychidae, adult males are winged while females are typically wingless and remain within their larval cases. The genus Hyaloscotes is relatively small and poorly documented in the literature.
Kearfottia
Kearfottia is a genus of bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, established by Fernald in 1904. The genus belongs to the subfamily Naryciinae, a group of small moths whose larvae construct portable cases from silk and environmental debris. Records indicate presence in the United States, particularly Vermont. The genus contains relatively few described species and remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Psyche
bagworm moths
Psyche is a genus of bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, established by Schrank in 1801. The genus name derives from the Greek word for 'soul' or 'mind.' Larvae construct portable cases from silk and environmental materials such as plant debris, sand, or soil particles. Adults are typically small to medium-sized moths with reduced mouthparts; females of many species are wingless.
Psyche casta
Bagworm Moth
Psyche casta is a nocturnal bagworm moth in the family Psychidae. Males are small, winged insects with metallic brown wings, while females are wingless and grub-like. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism and is native to the Palearctic region, with introduced populations in North America. Caterpillars construct portable protective cases from grass and plant material.
Psychinae
bagworm moths
Psychinae is a subfamily of bagworm moths within the family Psychidae, established by Boisduval in 1829. The subfamily comprises at least 12 genera. Members are characterized by the construction of portable protective cases from silk combined with plant material, soil particles, or other debris. Larval case-building behavior is the defining trait of this group. Adult males are usually winged, while females are often wingless and remain in their cases.
Rhysipolis
Rhysipolis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Rhysipolinae (Braconidae), comprising approximately 22 described species. Species are small, with body lengths of 2.5–4.0 mm and fore wing lengths of 2.2–4.0 mm. The genus is distributed across the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with records from China, Russia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and parts of Europe. Members are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented hosts including bagworm moths (Psychidae) and snout moths (Pyralidae).
Siederia
Siederia is a genus of small bagworm moths in the family Psychidae, established by Meier in 1953. The genus was erected to accommodate species previously placed in the large, polyphyletic 'wastebin genus' Solenobia, which is now recognized as a junior synonym of Taleporia. Siederia species are classified in the subfamily Naryciinae, though some authorities place them in Taleporiinae if Naryciinae is not considered sufficiently distinct. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed primarily in the Palearctic region.
Taleporiinae
Taleporiinae is a subfamily of bagworm moths (Psychidae) characterized by larvae that construct portable protective cases from silk and environmental materials. Members of this subfamily exhibit diverse case architectures, including the double-walled larval cases documented in some genera. The subfamily was established by Herrich-Schäffer in 1857 and contains multiple genera distributed across various regions.
Thyridopteryx
bagworm moths
Thyridopteryx is a genus of bagworm moths (Psychidae) comprising five described species. The genus is best known for T. ephemeraeformis, the evergreen bagworm or North American bagworm, a significant pest of ornamental and landscape plants. Larvae construct protective cases from silk and plant fragments, which they carry throughout their development. The genus exhibits unusual sexual dimorphism: males are winged and capable of flight, while females are wingless and remain within their cases for life.
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Evergreen Bagworm Moth, Eastern Bagworm, Common Bagworm, Common Basket Worm, North American Bagworm
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, the evergreen bagworm moth, is a polyphagous pest species in the family Psychidae. Larvae construct distinctive silken bags decorated with plant fragments, which they carry throughout their development. Males emerge as winged adults with nearly scale-free, transparent wings—reflected in the genus name derived from Greek thyris (window) and ptera (wing). Females remain wingless and never leave their bags, releasing sex pheromones to attract mates. The species exhibits remarkable sexual dimorphism in both morphology and behavior, with males and females showing differential stratification on host trees and distinct pupation heights.
Thyridopteryx meadii
Creosote Bush Bagworm, Creosote Bagworm
Thyridopteryx meadii is a North American bagworm moth endemic to the Mojave Desert and adjacent arid regions. Unlike its widespread congener T. ephemeraeformis, this species exhibits extreme host specialization, feeding exclusively on creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). The species was named in honor of entomologist T. L. Mead, who collected the type specimen in California. Its life history is tightly coupled to the phenology of its host plant and regional rainfall patterns rather than following a fixed annual cycle.