Bug Identifier
Plaster Bagworm (larva/case)
Community identification

Plaster Bagworm (larva/case)

Phereoeca uterella

Order & Family
Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Tineidae
Size
Typically 8 to 13 mm (approx. 0.3 to 0.5 inches) long
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in humid climates, often on walls, baseboards, underneath furniture, or in closets. They thrive in damp environments like garages or bathrooms.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on keratin and organic debris, including spider webs, silk, wool, human hair, dead insects, and discarded larval cases of other insects.

Behavior Patterns

The larva constructs a distinctive flattened, pumpkin-seed-shaped case made of silk and debris (sand, dust, lint) which it carries around. It has openings at both ends allowing the larva to turn around inside and feed from either end.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or sting humans and are generally harmless. However, they can be a minor pest if they feed on woolen fabrics or rugs, though they are less destructive than common clothes moths.