Psychidae (family) IMMATURE

Unidentified case moth or bagworm at Copmanhurst, NSW

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Copmanhurst, NSW - suppressed
Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Copmanhurst, NSW - suppressed
Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Copmanhurst, NSW - suppressed
Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Copmanhurst, NSW - suppressed
Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Copmanhurst, NSW - suppressed
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Identification history

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE 6 Sep 2025 WendyEM
Psychidae (family) IMMATURE 6 Sep 2025 donhe
Unverified 6 Sep 2025 MazzV

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User's notes

A group of most amazing miniscule casemoth larvae! I’ve noticed clusters of these before, around early Autumn. They’ve been seen in large groups for usually just 1 day, and have all disappeared by the next day. They move very rapidly for their size, and the almost upright angle at which they hold their ‘cases’ is very distinctive (photo 4). Photos 2 & 3 seem to show a very thin off-white line encircling the rear edge of the head, on an otherwise all black body & legs (as far as can be seen). The first few sightings were where the only nearby plant was a grapevine, but there were only grasses below them at this sighting. How they turn up, en masse with their miniscule cases fully constructed, appearing for just one day, and then disappearing to who knows where is a mystery I’ve long wanted to solve!

3 comments

donhe wrote:
   6 Sep 2025
@MazzV : you should carry a little plastic sample bottle with you when you go out , to take any larvae you find into protective custody for rearing to an adult to identify the species.
MazzV wrote:
   18 Oct 2025
Wonderful suggestion @donhe! I will be prepared for the next discoveries. If, as with these, it is unclear what they might prefer to eat, are there any sure bets, say particular plant(s) that might have a generally universal appeal?
MazzV wrote:
   18 Oct 2025
@donhe PS I'm assuming that casemoths, like other moth/butterfly larvae, eat and grow for a while before they pupate; I have appropriate glass caging facilities to accommodate that, and can provide leaves of suitable plants if I know what plants will work.

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  • Less than 5mm Animal size

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