Forum Entomologi Italiani

Many species of Psychidae creates its bags in particular form, mostly typical for this species. Most often covers with parts of plants, soil, mineral particles etc. When caterpilar has no available proper material, then must take different, as it is.

Below, photos of my small experiment with bag of female Canephora unicolor (Hufn.) - bigger one, and Epichnopterix plumella (Den. et Schiff.) - smaller. Both were placed in the same container during nursery.

Once upon a time I looked at them and found that bigger larva treated a bag of smaller as building material It tried to bite it and fix to own bag what I prevent in final moment (visible track of cutting). Note that Epichnopterix larva were inside still alive. Later, larva repaired a damaged bag.

On second photo the same Canephora few weeks later (after hatching a female). It has no available proper material to cover a bag, just particles of newspaper. As you can see, larva covered own bag with bitten particles of paper

Hello Kamil.
Interesting post, but I think it's better to put it in "Entomologia generale" section. I'll do it for you after your answer.

_________________
Maurizio Gigli
http://utenti.romascuola.net/bups
http://bup.xoom.it/

OK, thanks.