Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Common bag moth larva

Liothula omnivora (Fereday)


Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Psychidae

Size range

  • Bag 60 mm long, adult wingspan 30 mm

Distribution

  • New Zealand native

Life History

  • Caterpillar forms in a tough cylindrical bag and attaches to plants
  • Often seen in gardens and shrubland
  • Eats leaves. Can be damaging if in large numbers
  • When fully grown the larva secures the bag and pupates
  • Adult female is flightless, grublike and lives within bag. Male is fully winged

Additional images