Found Insect: Bagworms

These well camouflaged objects are the creations of caterpillars in the family Psychidae. Called "bagworms", they build a protective case out of silk around themselves and incorporate pieces of plant material to conceal them. We found these while out walking. One was obvious on a bare lilac branch, while others on a juniper were better concealed but numerous enough to notice.

Bagworm on lilac. (Note the buds! Spring is coming!)

Evergreen bagworm Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis  on juniper. This case looks empty - well attached bags can remain on the tree for years.

Bagworms have an interesting life history. The larvae live in the bag they build around them, with their heads poking out to feed, and they drag the case as they move around. In the autumn, they attach the bag to a branch and pupate face down inside. The male moths emerge in about a month to mate with the females who remain in the bags. 

Here's where it gets weird. The female has no eyes, legs, wings, or antennae and can't eat. Since she can't leave the bag, the male finds her by a strong pheromone she emits and mates with her through a hole in her case. After mating, she dies, and the eggs - which are still inside her - hatch. The newly hatched larvae emerge though her body, and then leave the mother's bag to create their own.