Beware the Bagworm

This cleverly designed object is the home to the Bagworm, a curious creature that can devour Arbor Vitae or other shrubs unless these cases are removed before the larvae emerge.

I saw this one on a shrub behind the Park-Madison building. Others may differ in appearance, depending what the Bagworm uses to construct its case. It looks deceptively like something that might belong on a shrub, unless you know what you are looking at. To prevent depredation of your Arbor Vitae or other host plants, you should handpick the cases and submerge them in soapy water, according to several sources.

Look here for more information.

--Bernice