438 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
also the habits of the larvae are very different. The moths are stout 
with pectinate antennae, and falcate forewings, more or less bent at 
the middle and with heavy veins. The hind wings have the humeral 
angle much enlarged, and the frenulum at most rudimentary. 
So far as is known only two species are found in the eastern part 
of the United States, and only one of them is at all common. This 
one, Cicinnus melsheimeri (Harr.), Melsheimer’s sack-bearer, ranges 
from southern New ee to Wisconsin and southward, and, 
although not of economic importance, it often attracts attention. The 
moth is reddish gray, finely sprinkled with minute black dots. Both 
wings are crossed by a narrow blackish band, and the forewings have 
each a black discal spot or bar. The wing expanse is about 114 to 2 
inches. The larva feeds on oak, most commonly on scrub oak. The 
newly hatched larva draws together two leaves with strands of silk, 
making a shelter. Later it constructs a neat ellipsoidal portable case 
of pieces of leaves and silk, leaving a circular opening at each end. It 
deserts the case at will. When at rest it anchors the case with strands 
of silk, and its head and anal end stop up the openings. If it desires 
to move to another twig, it bites off the strands of silk and transports 
the case to the new location. The moths emerge in May and June, 
and the larvae are found from July to October. The other species, 
Lacosoma chiridota Grote, is a dark yellowish-brown moth with fore- 
wings deeply scalloped and a wing expanse of about 1 to 114 inches. 
The larvae feed on oak, and the habits, seasonal history, and distribu- 
tion are somewhat similar to those of Cicinnus melsheime7i. 
Famiry PSYCHIDAE 
The Bagworms 
Each member of this family lives within a case or bag made of silk, 
usually strengthened and more or less camouflaged by an outer layer 
of bits of leaves or stems. The larva never leaves the case, the excre- 
ment is forced out through a small opening in the lower end, and there 
is a large opening at the top from which the head and several segments 
of the larva may protrude when feeding, moving about, or enlar ging 
the case. 
Only one species, the bagworm (Vhyridopteryx ephemeraeformis 
(Haw.)) (fig. 92) is commonly seen. The male moth is sooty black 
with broadly feathered antennae and hairy body and legs, and has 
a wing expanse of about Linch. The wings become almost transparent 
after a short flight. The female is w ithout functional eyes, legs, or 
antennae, is maggotlike in appearance, soft, yellowish-white, and 
almost naked (Howard and Chittenden, 244). The numerous soft, 
white eggs are packed in the pupal case. The full-grown larva attains 
a length of 34 to 1 inch, and is dark brown, with the head and thoracic 
plates yellowish with numerous black spots. The cases of the mature 
larvae may be from 34 inch to 11% inches long. ‘This species is found 
from southern Nach to Kansas and south to Florida and 
Texas. It is principally a pest of shade trees, shrubs, and hedges, 
though it favors evergreens of all kinds, especially arborvitae, causing 
partial or complete defoliation. It has been known to flourish on 
native cedars, cypress, and willows in Texas. 
