PSYCHIDAE: Bagworm Moths ⁶

Scoriodyta conisalia (Meyrick, 1888). Endemic.

Habitat, seasonality and behaviour ⁷

The adult appears in October through to December.

Life history ⁷

The larva constructs a portable sub-cylindrical case in which it lives during most of the year, becoming full-grown towards the end of winter. In damp weather cases may be seen spread over the fence in all directions, the larvae dragging themselves out of their hiding places in order to feed on minute green algae (Pleurococcus vulgaris) which grows on fencing boards, or tree-trunks, almost immediately after rain. The pupa state is assumed about September. (Hudson, 1928)

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Lindsay Alexander, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lindsay Alexander
2. (c) Neville Hudson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Neville Hudson
3. (c) Stephen Thorpe, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Stephen Thorpe
4. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_11_MA_I437898_TePapa_Plate-XXXVII-The-butterflies_full_(cropped).jpg
5. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_12_MA_I437898_TePapa_Plate-XXXVII-The-butterflies_full_(cropped).jpg
6. Adapted by Tony Steer from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoriodyta_conisalia
7. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

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