Case-bearing Clothes Moth
Tinea pellionella
A clothes moth whose larvae live inside a portable silk case made from the fibres they eat, so the case is often the same colour as the damaged fabric.
- Size
- 6–8 mm
- Colour
- Brownish, faint spots
- Sign
- Small silk cases
- Larvae
- Carry their case
Questions about the Case-bearing Clothes Moth
How to identify a Case-bearing Clothes Moth
Identification
- Adult about 6–8 mm long, brownish-buff with a few faint dark spots on the forewings.
- Larvae are creamy-white with a dark head and live inside a flattened silk case up to about 10 mm long, open at both ends.
- Cases are often found stuck to walls, ceilings or the underside of furniture where larvae have moved to pupate.
Where it lives
- Wool carpets, rugs, blankets and clothing.
- Feathers, fur and felt in stored items.
- Accumulated hair and fluff, including pet hair.
Behaviour
- Larvae drag their case as they move and feed, leaving smaller, scattered holes rather than webbing.
- Adults are weak fliers that avoid light.
Why it matters
Its cases can be mistaken for lint or seeds, so infestations are easy to miss. Finding small cases on walls or under furniture is a sign to check nearby woollens and rugs. See what carpet moths are.
Commonly confused with
Carpet moth guides
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Carpet Moths by location
More about carpet moths
Carpet Moths
Small, pale moths whose caterpillars eat wool, silk, fur and feathers. They chew holes in carpets, rugs, clothes and blankets, usually in dark, undisturbed places such as under furniture and inside wardrobes.
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Sources & further reading
- Australian Museum — insects and spiders — Australian Museum
- CSIRO — insect and pest research — CSIRO
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