Snailcase Bagworm vs Snout Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Snailcase Bagworm	Snout Moth
Scientific Name	Apterona helicoidella	Vitessa suradeva
Order	Lepidoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Psychidae	Pyralidae
Size	Case about 5-6 mm; male wingspan 10 mm	40-50 mm wingspan
Habitat	Grasslands	Forests
Diet	Omnivores	Herbivores
Regions	Europe, Asia Minor, introduced to North America	Southeast Asia
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Snailcase Bagworm

A tiny bagworm moth whose larva builds a coiled, snail-shell-shaped case from silk and sand grains. It reproduces entirely by parthenogenesis in most of its range.

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Did You Know?

Males are almost never found; most populations consist entirely of females reproducing without mating.

Snout Moth

A large pyralid moth from Southeast Asia and New Guinea whose caterpillars spin webs on young leaves of poisonous shrubs. Adults have elongated labial palps forming a 'snout'.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars can tolerate feeding on toxic plants that would kill most other moth species.