
Community identification
Household casebearer
Phereoeca uterella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera, Tineidae
- Size
- Larvae cases measure about 10 to 14 millimeters in length.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors on walls, ceilings, and in dark, undisturbed areas like closets.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on spider webs, dust, hair, feathers, and occasionally wool or cotton fabrics.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae construct a portable, flattened silken case incorporating debris and drag it everywhere. Adult females are wingless and remain in the case, while males are tiny, weak-flying moths.
Risks & Benefits
They cause minor cosmetic damage to walls and can chew holes in natural fiber fabrics. However, they are not venomous, do not bite, and pose no direct health risks to humans.