File: <psychid.htm> [For educational purposes only] Glossary <Principal Natural Enemy Groups > <Citations> <Home>

LEPIDOPTERA, Psychidae -- <Images> & <Juveniles>

This family includes the bagworms, which are notorious phytophagous pests. There are nevertheless a few records of their attacking other insects. In Louisiana, feeding by larvae of Platoeceticus gloverii Pack on the camphor scale, Pseudaonidia duplex Ckll. was observed by Plank & Cressman (1934). Although mostly a phytophage, in 1932 it was estimated that >90% of the scales on camphor was destroyed by predation. Most of the feeding took place during winter, and very little was found during summer. The dorsal coverings of scales were usually removed completely and they were later incorporated into the larval cases.

References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]