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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Tubeworm, Bagworm, and Clothes Moths (Tineoidea) » Clothes Moths (Tineidae) » Tineinae » Household Casebearer Moths (Phereoeca) » Household Casebearer - Hodges#0390 (Phereoeca uterella)
Photo#149163
Worm in a pod? What the heck? - Phereoeca uterella
Copyright © 2007 Mrs Seals

Worm in a pod? What the heck? - Phereoeca uterella
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
September 30, 2007
Size: 3/8 in.
We've found about 8 of these in different parts of our house over the last couple of weeks. Some are alive, some not. It looks kinda like a pumpkin seed, but dappled, and the little worm comes out of either end and pulls himself and his pod along behind him. Nobody we know has even heard of these and we're freaked out. Needless to say, we're dying to know what this creature is.
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Contributed by Mrs Seals on 30 September, 2007 - 10:15am
Last updated 22 November, 2007 - 10:46am

Moved
Moved from Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 22 November, 2007 - 10:46am login or register to post comments

It's a Household Casebearer
see guide page for more info.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 30 September, 2007 - 10:22am login or register to post comments

 
household casebearer
thank you, Hannah, for solving our mystery. i guess the little guys are not dangerous or toxic (we have a baby) or you would have said so? when they become moths do they just leave the empty cases behind?
Maybe we should be more worried about the black widows we have found instead!
:-)
… Mrs Seals, 30 September, 2007 - 11:41am login or register to post comments

 
Nope, not dangerous
my babies and I coexisted quite happily with these guys in FL. : ) And yes, the empty cases would be left behind by the adults.

Widow spiders should obviously be treated with respect, though they are apparently really reluctant to engage with humans. Be sure to check any possible hiding places (areas usually undisturbed where they may have become established) before you put your hands or feet in. See guide.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 30 September, 2007 - 11:49am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks very much!
Thanks very much!
… Mrs Seals, 30 September, 2007 - 2:50pm login or register to post comments

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