Bag Worm Moth, 20 slides.

Brief description with few images.
All images are subject to copy wright law.

1. BAG WORM , an amazing engineer and architech Date of publication : 04.08.2019 Dr Tusar Kanti Ghosal M.Sc Zoology (Entomology), Ph.D in Science (Zoology/Entomology )

2. Moth and Butterfly There are about 1,60,000 species including 127 families where most are moths (87%) and rest are butterflies. There are around 1,42,000 species of moths & 25,000 species of Butterflies recorded from the world.

3. Few other insects as engineer & architect HONEY BEE POTTER WASP TERMITE WEAVER ANT

4. Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Arthropoda Sub Phylum : Hexapoda Class : Insecta Order : Lepidoptera Family : Psychidae Genus : Eumeta Species : E .  crameri Bagworm   Scientific Name : Eumeta crameri (Westwood), 1854 Bengali name : Thali moth It is recorded as pest of guava tree (leaves) from Cooch Behar town in the year May, 2018 although I found that in my school life (during 1980) on Hibiscus flower plant in my old residence at rail quarter, Cooch Behar town. It was described by John O. Westwood in 1854 and has worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical habitats, including India, Bangladesh, Sri lanka , New Zealand  and  Puerto Rico.

5. Its bags are classic example of architechture . The larvae never Leave its bag. It always remains insede a silken bag covered with tree twigs. Bagworm

6. It is a pests of Guava , Pomegranate, Sapota etc in India Pests of Guava: More than 80 species of insects and mites have been recorded in guava trees affecting growth and yield. However in India, the major pests are polyphagous pest like tea mosquito bug, fruit flies, fruit borers, bark eating caterpillars mealy bug and introduced pest namely spiraling white fly.

7. After hatching, the larva climbs to the top of its host tree and begins feeding on the tender shoots. These Bagworm nests are usually brow or gray in color and look like small pine cones. Bag worm on guava tree

8. Bag worm eggs inside silken bag

9. The larva continues feeding until it matures.It then attaches the bag in to a branch with a strand of silk and starts developing into a pupa. They never leave the protective bag . LARVAE of bag worm

10. Once the larva finds a host, it starts to make a new protective bag around itself and remains inside this bag sticking Only its head out to eat from the host.When alarmed, it quickly withdraw, turtle like, inside its case. LARVAE of bag worm

11. Once the eggs hatch, the larva spins a silk strand that hangs down it . The characteristic of the insect species is that it spins its cocoon all its larval period, decorating it with small twigs, bark and thorns from the trees on which it feeds. LARVAE of bag worm Bag worm insect is a nature’s most amazing creatures

12. Case renovation consists of replacing the twigs and thorns that make up the case with longer materials , with one piece noticeably longer than the others. LARVAE of bag worm

13. The   Eumeta crameri  larva renovates its case three times during 2-3 month larval stage , doing it progressively faster each time . LARVAE of bag worm

14. Bag worm inside silk bag Female adults are little more than egg laying “lumps” having no legs, no wings, no eyes and mouth parts.

15. It die after mating. Male moths die outside the bag after copulation. Females die inside the bag and get mummified around the mass of several hundred eggs that they produce. Bag worm pupae

16. Male adult moth Its antenna is bipectinate , head , thorax and abdomen are clothed with light and dark brown setae. Forewings are light reddish brown with the veins streaked with black. The interspaces with pale streaks, more or less fuscous suffusion on outer area. Its hindwings are smoky brown .

17. In male wings short and broad . One generation in a year. Its eggs are produced every year. Male adult moth Male moths die outside the bag after copulation. Females die inside the bag and get mummified around the mass of several hundred eggs. Adult females are wingless. When fully mature , adults mate and die immediatel y .

18. Chemical control For control of Bagworms insecticides should be sprayed on young larvae during late- June or early-July.  This is the best time to apply insecticides for Bagworm control as feeding by these moths slow down by August. Naturally, chemical control during this time is not as effective . Insecticides used for controlling this pest include Carbaryl , Acephate , Cyfluthrin , Permethrin and Malathion . Affected plants must be thoroughly sprayed with any of these pesticides in June for Bagworm killing as soon as they start feeding on plants.

19. Scope of research Larva of Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae ) is recorded to be a potential pests of guayule ( Parthenium argentatum  Gray) plantations in southern Africa. Poisonous Parthenium plants ( Partheniun spp.) may control with bagworm insect to protect Indian nature.

20. Dedicated to Dr . Jaydev Ghosh , Dr. Nilanjana Choudhury and other staff members of Dept. of Entomology, U.B.K.V.