
Community identification
Casemaking Clothes Moth (larva)
Tinea pellionella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Tineidae
- Size
- Larvae are roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch (7-12 mm) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in dark areas like closets, drawers, and under furniture where natural fibers are stored.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on animal-based materials including wool, silk, fur, feathers, felt, and hair.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae construct a portable silken case incorporating fibers from the material they are eating; they carry this case as they move and eventually pupate inside it.
Risks & Benefits
Poses a significant risk to household textiles and heirloom fabrics, causing irreversible hole damage. They have no direct health risk to humans but are considered a serious domestic pest.