Protective bag of a bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) on a baldcypress twig, late February 2020.  Scout for these bags in the landscape now, before the new generation emerges in the spring.  The bag in this image was formed in 2019, by either a male or female.  Female bags may contain between 500 and 1,000 eggs for the new year, so removal is an important landscape task.  Use a sharp knife, razor blade, or scissors to snip and unwind the silk band that attaches the bag to the twig; otherwise, the twig can become girdled, resulting in dieback beyond the attachment.  See Bagworms in Ornamental Landscapes for biology and management of this common insect pest.