Case-Bearing Clothes Moth Larva
Scientific Name: Tinea pellionella (likely, based on the image of a case-bearing larva)
Order & Family: Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Tineidae
Size: Larvae typically range from 1 millimeter (when newly hatched) up to 10-15 millimeters (when fully grown). The adult moths are small, with a wingspan of about 10-14 millimeters.
Natural Habitat
Indoors, in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, attics, storage chests, and under furniture. They are often found on or near their food sources, which include woolen garments, carpets, upholstery, furs, and other animal-derived products.
Diet & Feeding
The larvae primarily feed on natural fibers, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, felt, and other animal products containing keratin. They may also feed on blended fabrics and sometimes plant-based materials stained with food or body oils. Cotton and synthetic fibers are generally resistant unless blended with or soiled by susceptible materials.
Behavior Patterns
Case-bearing clothes moths are known for the silken case they construct and carry with them throughout their larval stage. They feed within this case, enlarging it as they grow. Adults are not strong flyers and prefer to crawl or make short flights. They are attracted to light but typically found in dark, undisturbed areas where their food sources are present. Larvae are the destructive stage, causing damage to fabrics.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include significant damage to valuable clothing, carpets, and other stored natural fiber items. They are generally considered pests and do not pose direct health risks to humans. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem in a domestic setting.
Identified on: 8/26/2025