Bagworms pass the winter as eggs inside a spindle shaped bag found on a variety of trees and plants. The Evergreen Bagworm prefers deciduous and evergreen trees while the Snailcase Bagworm prefers vegetables, ornamentals, legumes, fruit and other trees. There can be up to 1000 eggs in a single bag. The eggs hatch in mid May and the tiny larval use silk and plant material to construct a small bag around its hind parts. As they feed and grow, so does the bag. Bags are made of silk and plant materials like sand, soil and lichen. In early fall, when the bags are one to two inches big, the larvae suspend the bags pointing downward from twigs during which time they transform into the pupae or resting stage before becoming adults. Evergreen Bagworms attach their bags mainly to evergreen trees making it look like pinecones. Grass Bagworms are attached to grass until they pupate, then it attaches its bag to the sides of fences and buildings. The Snailcase Bagworm constructs their bags when larvae drop to the ground on silken threads and make c-shaped cases around themselves. They are made of silk and soil particles and look like small round pieces of dirt. This bagworm is odd because it reproduces parthenogenetically (without males). The Adult male Evergreen bagworm emerges in early fall when they fly in search of females who are still in their bags. Females produce a scent or pheromone that attracts the males to her. The male inserts his abdomen into a hole in the bottom of the bag to mate. The female lays several hundred eggs in a sack and then drops from her bag and dies. The eggs remain in the bag until May when the life cycle starts all over again. There is usually one generation per year. Adult male bagworms survive just long enough to mate, due to underdeveloped mouthparts that prevent them from feeding. For more information on the bag worm, go to this website .
