Bagworm Moths Build Tiny Portable Houses For Themselves That Are Almost Impenetrable (Pics & Video)

Lets talk about tiny houses. These little critters have us beat by a long shot. Using silk to pull together bits of leaves, twigs or other plant materials, bagworm moths craft unique, temporary homes that are the model of efficiency. The best part? Some take their houses on the road. These little fellas construct cases that are like portable homes and save them from predators.

The bagworm moth, also known as case moth, in the family of Psychidae, belongs to the insect order of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). The family of bagworm moths is quite small: it contains about 1350 species, but they can be found all over the world. Their name refers to the protective "homes" they build. After hatching, the caterpillar of the bagworm moth wastes no time: the larva weaves a silk cocoon around itself and reinforces it with twigs, leaves, and other bits of plants. The result is a small structure that often resembles a tiny house. They provide a safe shell that's very hard for predators to penetrate, and the locally scavenged building materials give it a natural camouflage against prying eyes.