Common Bagworm Moth

Common Bagworm Moth

Psyche casta

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Shenandoah National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

12 Verified sightings at Shenandoah National Park From 2019 to 2026
37 In all 4 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Common Bagworm Moth

Psyche casta is a nocturnal moth from the family Psychidae, the bagworm moths. The wingspan of the males ranges from 12 to 15 millimeters. They have hairy, brown-metallic shiny wings. The grub-like females have legs but do not have wings and are yellowish or light brown, except for some dark brown back plates.

The host plants are from the groups: Poaceae, birch, willow, poplar and Vaccinium. The caterpillars make a protective hull from grass. The flight time ranges from May to July. Originally from the Old World, they have been introduced in North America. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
3 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
4 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
2 Boston 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Amsterdam 🇳🇱 Netherlands
~10%
4 Minneapolis [Saint Paul] 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Rotterdam [The Hague] 🇳🇱 Netherlands
<5%
6 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Philadelphia 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Munich 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
9 Vienna 🇦🇹 Austria
<5%
10 Miami 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Bagworm Moth in Shenandoah National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bagworm Moth sighting in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 301st most-seen of the 723 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Bagworm Moth in Shenandoah National Park?

May and June

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bagworm Moth in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July to April, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Bagworm Moth?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Bagworm Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Shenandoah National Park the best place to see a Common Bagworm Moth?

Yes

Of the 4 parks where we can rate Common Bagworm Moth sightings, Shenandoah National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Cévennes National Park (France, about 10%) and Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, about 10%).

Where does the Common Bagworm Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Bagworm Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Shenandoah National Park (12 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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