This bagworm moth was found on a tree in Dilworth Park in Kelowna in January, 2025.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kathleen Johnson
January 19, 2025 - 6:00 AM
Calgary resident Kathleen Johnson is staying with her family in Kelowna this month to help care for a loved one and recently found a tiny and fascinating moth on a tree in the city's Dilworth Park.
“My brother harassed me to take a break from giving care and go for a walk so I took his dog Hank and went to a nearby park,” she said. “I noticed a lot of trees were in bad shape with bark peeling and was exploring the trees to find any clues as to why.”
Johnson spotted a tiny moth covered in sticks holding onto the bark of a tree.
“It was only a centimetre long with this cocoon thing on it that was covered in tiny little stick. I’d never seen anything like it before, it was fascinating,” she said. “I wondered if it had anything to do with the tree damage so I thought I’d better document it.”
The stick covered insect appears to be a bagworm moth, which are common across North America, however, they're hard to spot and unique in that they build bags on their bodies using sticks, sand, and whatever other natural debris they can find.
Female bagworm moths lay eggs in protective cases on tree branches and hide them with debris and when the larva hatches it begins to build a bag out of silk and natural plant debris, according to Wild Explained.
A bagworm moth covered with sticks was found in Dilworth Park in Kelowna.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kathleen Johnson
The bag is camouflage and protects the larva from predators and harsh weather, and as the larva grows it works to expand it.
During the larval stage the bagworm moths feed on leaves and plant material and can eat a significant amount of foliage. Hidden inside the bags, the larva will eventually transform into an adult moth.
Johnson is a nature lover and is involved with efforts to help bats and birds affected by urban hazards back home in Alberta. One thing she's passionate about is taking part in community reporting with iNaturalist, where residents can document interesting flora and fauna finds to provide information for broader research studies.
“You just never know with everyone’s eyes looking what you’ll be happen upon and how significant it might be,” she said.
She snapped photos of the moth and submitted them along with location details to iNaturalist and is waiting for a scientist to confirm the species.
“I’m going to head out with my macro lens and see if I can find it again,” she said. “I’m thankful for finding the little fellow on the tree, it’s something interesting at a challenging time.”
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