Casemaking Clothes Moth (larva)

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, particularly in darkened areas such as closets, cupboards, and storage bins where natural fibers are kept.

Diet & Feeding

Keratin-rich materials including wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, and sometimes leather or dried organic matter. They do not eat synthetic fabrics.

Behavior Patterns

The larva constructs a portable silken case incorporating fibers from the substrate it is feeding on. It drags this case around for protection and eventually attaches it to a surface (often a wall or ceiling) to pupate. Adults are small, buff-colored moths that avoid light.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Significant household pest that causes irreversible damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets. Benefits: In the wild, they act as decomposers of animal remains like fur and feathers, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Identified on: 3/12/2026