Household Casebearer (often confused with Plaster Bagworm)
Scientific Name: Phereoeca uterella (or sometimes Phereoeca allutella)
Order & Family: Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
Size: Larval case is typically 8-13 mm (0.3-0.5 inches) long.
Natural Habitat
Commonly found indoors on walls, in corners, closets, and underneath spiderwebs; thrives in high humidity environments like bathrooms and garages.
Diet & Feeding
Detritovores; they feed on old spider webs, wool, hair, dead insects, lint, and other organic debris found in dust.
Behavior Patterns
The larva builds a flattened, pumpkin-seed-shaped protective case out of silk and camouflages it with sand, dust, and paint fragments. It drags this 'house' around with it, poking its head out from either end to move or feed.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans (they do not bite or sting). They can be a minor nuisance pest in homes because their cases are unsightly on walls. While they can feed on wool fibers, they are less destructive to clothing than common clothes moths.
Identified on: 3/10/2026