Community identification
Case-bearing clothes moth (larva)
Tinea pellionella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Tineidae
- Size
- Case is usually 5-10 mm long; the larva inside is slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in closets, cupboards, and storage areas containing natural fibers.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on keratins found in natural animal fibers like wool, hair, feathers, silk, and furs.
Behavior Patterns
The larva constructs a portable silken case camouflaged with fragments of the material it is eating, which it carries as it feeds and eventually pupates inside.
Risks & Benefits
Considered a household pest that can cause significant damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets; it offers no significant benefits to humans.