Bug Identifier
Plaster Bagworm
Community identification

Plaster Bagworm

Phereoeca uterella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Tineidae
Size
Case is 8-14 mm (0.3-0.5 inches) long
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, particularly on walls in humid subtropical climates

Diet & Feeding

Larvae eat natural fibers, spider webs, wool, human hair, and silk

Behavior Patterns

Larva lives inside a portable silk case covered in sand and lint, which it can turn around inside to feed from either end

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless but can be a minor pest of fabrics; they provide ecological benefit as scavengers of organic debris