Possible bagworms

Question: Hi everyone,
Hope all is well at HGIC. I found these on a silver maple trunk across the street from me. Was wondering if they are bagworms. This has been a stange growing season for sure!
Thanks,
Debbie

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 27, 2023, 2:22 PM EDT
response: Hi Debbie!  One of our coordinators recently brought in a sample of these as well, on the bark of her Fringetree. They do appear to be a type of Bagworm, but we're not certain exactly which species. An entomologist at NC State has photographed something similar consuming lichen on bark, and other species in that same moth family (like this one) have been tentatively IDed in discussions on BugGuide, though neither that I looked up seem to be in Maryland Biodiversity Project's database.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 27, 2023, 2:53 PM EDT
response: Hi Miri, Thanks. These were very close to the bagworms. Don't think they are related but curious about them too.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 27, 2023, 4:21 PM EDT
response: Interesting! We will consult with an entomologist and see if we can come up with a tentative ID for those larvae. Might you be able to get a clearer photo, by chance?  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 9:21 AM EDT
response: Here is another attempt. They are located in the crook of a limb. So it's tricky to get a better photo. Thanks so much for your help with this.

responder: Answered by University of Maryland Extension faculty. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit the HGIC program web page and blog, Maryland Grows. Replied July 28, 2023, 11:44 AM EDT
response: Hello, Thank you for your question and photos! The cases attached to the silver maple tree bark do appear to be some kind of bagworm casing. Bagworms use all different kinds of plant materials to create their casings. A very cool find!  The additional larvae you found appear to be some kind of beetle larvae, potentially larvae of one of the twice-stabbed lady beetle species (typically predators of scale insects) or some other lady beetle (belonging to the beetle family Coccinellidae). Another very cool find! You can see many of the larvae have entered into the pupal stage- seen by the split larval body with the pupae inside.  A good sign to see these beneficial insects (lady beetles) in the landscape.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 12:04 PM EDT
response: Great, I will keep an eye out on the larva to see if I can see what hatches out. As always, you are great and I'm still proud that I used to be one of the ranks!!!

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 12:18 PM EDT
response: Thank you, and you're welcome!