Metura elongatus
Metura elongatus | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | Psychidae
|
Genus: | |
Species: | M. elongatus
|
Binomial name | |
Metura elongatus | |
Synonyms | |
|
Saunders' case moth or the large bagworm (Metura elongatus) is a moth of the Psychidae family. It is known from the eastern half of Australia, including Tasmania.[2]
The wingspan is about 30 mm for males. Adult males have black wings, an orange hairy head and a black and orange banded abdomen. Female adults have no wings and remain in the larval case. They are white with a brown head and reach a length of about 30 mm.[3]
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Conyza bonariensis, Cupressus, Epacris, , Acacia dealbata, Eucalyptus, Pinus and Cotoneaster species. They create a silken shelter, which is initially covered with bits of leaf, but later also with short twigs. They live and pupate within this shelter. When threatened, they temporarily seal the front opening of the case until the danger is past.
Larva extending from case for locomotion
Case
Larva in case
References[]
![]() |
Wikispecies has information related to Metura elongatus. |
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metura elongatus. |
- ^ Australian Faunal Directory
- ^ "Metura elongatus (Saunders, 1847)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ "Metura elongatus".
- Psychidae
- Moths described in 1847
- Taxa named by William Wilson Saunders
- Tineoidea stubs