Convolvulus capensis and stick-covered insect

The damaged Convolvulus capensis corolla can possibly be blamed on the case moth larva in picture, burdened by its house, a self-made stick cocoon, carried along wherever it goes. Sticks and own secreted silk are used to build the woody cover or bag in which these creatures live, partly to avoid their predators.

There are about 1400 species of these bagworms that differ in looks due to available building material, as well as the skills and habits of each particular species. These members of the Psychidae family of insects become pupae inside their cocoons.

Only the small moth of the final metamorphic stage emerges from this cover. The moths are from 1 cm to 2 cm long, the males often with transparent wings (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Holm, 2008; www.keepinginsects.com).