Saturday, September 5, 2009

Travelling house

It looks like a bamboo windchime that's been stuck, but it is actually a pretty interesting home. It is built by the larva of the bagworm moths of the family Psychidae - apparently, these cases are more helpful in identifying the exact species of the moth, rather than the full grown insect itself. The larva builds this case out of any natural protective material it can find; other than such tiny twigs, building materials include sand, leaves, or other plant matter. Until the larva is feeding, it moves around, carrying its 'house' with it. Once it is ready to pupate, it fixes the case to the nearest anchor - a branch, wall or rocks - with its silken adhesive.

If you look closely, you'll see some wing-scales peeping through at the bottom of this house; the adult moth will be ready to fly out, maybe in a day or so!

3 comments:

uvaraj said...

Ha, good find. I have seen this before and needless to say, fascinated by the contruction.

Shantaram said...

@ Uvaraj: I'm sure that if I go looking for a bagworm moth case, I wouldn't find it!

Building Materials Supplies said...

Travelling house

Thanks for sharing