1. The bagworm (Eumeta crameri) is a species of moth that builds protective silk bags that it lives within as a larvae. 2. As a larvae, the bagworm attaches pieces of twigs and bark to its silk bag, which it renews periodically throughout its larval stage to accommodate growth. 3. The female adult moths are wingless and die inside their bags after mating and laying eggs, while male moths die outside after mating. Their bags provide protection throughout development.

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
immediately.

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.