Psyche casta
This record describes Psyche casta (species). Recorded family: Psychidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-15 mm. The adult males are plain, dull brownish moths. The females are wingless and grub-like in appearance. Various habitats but look around tree trunks. Known as 'bagworms' or 'case-bearers', the larvae of the Psychidae construct cases from fragments of plant material, in this instance, pieces of grass. The case is attached to a tree trunk or foliage, or quite often to a wooden fence or gate. The larvae feed on grasses, lichens and decaying vegetable matter. The species is fairly common throughout the British Isles, but becoming less so further north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Psyche casta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche casta.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Psychidae (Bagworm Moths)
- Subfamily
- Psychinae
- Tribe
- Psychini
- Genus
- Psyche
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats but look around tree trunks.
Seasonal Activity
Both sexes emerge between May and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Known as 'bagworms' or 'case-bearers', the larvae of the
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is fairly common throughout the British Isles, but becoming less so further north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psyche casta. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Psyche casta (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Psyche casta
What is Psyche casta?
Psyche casta is a species in the family Psychidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Psyche casta found?
Habitat: Various habitats but look around tree trunks.
When is Psyche casta active?
Psyche casta: seasonal activity - Both sexes emerge between May and July..
What is the life cycle of a Psyche casta?
Known as 'bagworms' or 'case-bearers', the larvae of the