Household Casebearer or Plaster Bagworm
Scientific Name: Phereoeca uterella (formerly Phereoeca allutella) or Phereoeca praecox
Order & Family: Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Tineidae
Size: Case size is usually between 8 to 13 mm (0.3 to 0.5 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in tropical and subtropical regions; prefers humid environments like closets, bathrooms, and garages where they attach to walls or undersides of furniture.
Diet & Feeding
The larva feeds on silk (from spiders), wool, hair, lint, dead insects, and spider webs.
Behavior Patterns
The larva constructs a distinctive flattened, pumpkin-seed-shaped protective case out of silk and debris (sand, soil, fibers), which it carries around. It protrudes its head and legs from either end to move.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans (does not bite or sting). Can be a nuisance pest indoors and may cause minor damage to woolen fabrics or collect unsightly dust and debris.
Identified on: 3/1/2026