Bug Identifier
Plaster Bagworm (or Household Casebearer)
Community identification

Plaster Bagworm (or Household Casebearer)

Phereoeca uterella

Order & Family
Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Tineidae
Size
Larval case is typically 8-13 mm long (about half an inch).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Commonly found indoors on walls, especially in humid climates like Florida. They often hang around baseboards, in closets, under furniture, or in spider webs.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on spider webs, wool, hair, old insect skins, dead insects, and general household dust and lint.

Behavior Patterns

The larva constructs a flat, pumpkin-seed-shaped protective case made of silk and camouflaged with debris (sand, soil, lint, paint fragments). It drags this case around as it moves. Before pupating, they often climb walls to attach their case in a high, hidden spot.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans (they do not bite or sting). They are considered a minor household pest because they can damage woolen fabrics and rugs, though they primarily eat cobwebs and dust. Their presence often indicates high humidity or a buildup of spiderwebs/dust.