
Community identification
Household Casebearer
Phereoeca uterella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Tineidae
- Size
- 8 to 13 mm in length for the case containing the larva
Natural Habitat
Found inside homes, particularly in bathrooms and bedrooms on walls and floors with high humidity
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on organic fibers such as spider webs, woollen clothing, and hair
Behavior Patterns
The larva builds a silk-lined protective case covered with environmental debris and sand, and it can move its head to either end of the case to feed
Risks & Benefits
They are nuisance pests that can damage wool fabrics and silk, but they pose no direct health risk to humans