Case-bearing clothes moth (larva)

Indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses; specifically near natural fibers and textiles.

Keratin-rich organic materials including wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, and sometimes carpets or upholstery.

Larvae construct a portable silken case incorporating fibers from their food source. They carry this 'sleeping bag' as they feed. They avoid light and prefer dark, undisturbed areas for development.

Risk: Destruction of household textiles, expensive clothing, and heirlooms. Benefits: In the wild, they help decompose animal debris like fur or feathers, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.