Psychidae

11.011 Birch Bagworm Proutia betulina (Zeller, 1839)

pRDB3

Similar species:

Forewing: M 5.5 to 7mm, F wingless

Habitats: Deciduous woodland.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva overwinters while small. It feeds on lichens growing on bushes, tree trunks, branches and posts, especially on the outer edges of Blackthorn thickets. In captivity the larva will eat Blackthorn leaves and catkins of birch and sallow. It pupates in the larval case attached to the feeding substrate. On emergence the male pupal case is left half exposed from the larval case, while the females pupal case is retained within the larval case.