
Community identification
Plaster Bagworm
Phereoeca uterella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Tineidae
- Size
- Case is 8-14 mm (0.3-0.5 inches) long
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