Bug Identifier
Case-bearing Clothes Moth (larva)
Community identification

Case-bearing Clothes Moth (larva)

Tinea pellionella

Order & Family
Order Lepidoptera, Family Tineidae
Size
Case length: 8-10 mm; Larva: up to 12 mm
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, particularly in closets, drawers, or under furniture where natural fibers are present.

Diet & Feeding

Keratin-based materials including wool, silk, hair, feathers, fur, and occasionally synthetic fibers blended with natural ones.

Behavior Patterns

The larva constructs a protective silken case covered in debris and fiber from its food source. It carries this case as it feeds and remains inside it to pupate.

Risks & Benefits

Potential for significant damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets. They do not pose health risks to humans or pets but are considered household pests.