Bagworms lay eggs that hatch as moths between the last days of May through the early weeks of June. Most people know this species by the name plaster bagworm. They may also have been smuggled into your house from newly purchased products, such as plants, carpet, furniture, and more. The plaster bagworm has 4 life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. A fully developed larva has a case 8 to 14 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide. Take a broom to those high corners near the ceiling. Cases can be found on wool rugs and wool carpets, hanging on curtains, or underneath buildings, hanging from subflooring, joists, sills and foundations; on the exterior of buildings in shaded places, under farm sheds, under lawn furniture, on stored farm machinery and on tree trunks. So if you have wool clothing or furniture, you should be careful. The caterpillars will drag their casing along the wall and set up shop near wall corners. The dark colored bagworm caterpillars are 1/8 to one inch long when they first hatch. The larvae of the species of Tineidae of economic importance. Due to the active international exchange of goods, other case-bearing moths may occur in Florida in the future. Moths will be attracted to the lamp and gravitate towards it. Bagworm cocoons ('bags') dangling from trees. Insect Management Guide for Bagworms and Clothes Moths (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG090). Plaster bagworms are unwelcome guests that can quickly wreak havoc on your home. Theres no need to use it during the daytime because moths are nocturnal (active at night). The larva builds the case before it hatches and each instar forces a larger case. This may help prevent the future generation of bagworms from developing because the Bt eats up the larvae and prevents them from spawning. The cases are constructed during the caterpillar stage (larval) and this is when most people notice them. Reduce the number of total spiders in your home and youll have fewer webs to deal with. They crawl around and forage for food (debris, detritus, webs, wool, fabrics, furniture, etc.) The differences are minimal and dont really matter for clearing the infestation anyway. The entire cycle from egg to adult averages 74.2 days (62 to 86 days). The larva is also transported to nearby plants by wind. Revised July 2005, April 2010, April 2014, and April 2017. Youll rarely find them in your wardrobe or closet anyway, as theyre not known to be closet bugs due to low humidity in a drawer. Juan A. Villaneuva-Jimenez and Thomas R. Fasulo; Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. Do you see tiny, ovular cases that look like pumpkin seeds hanging from your roof? 1979. Hetrick (1957) found that the most common and abundant food of the household casebearer in Florida is old spider webs, consumed in large quantities. After they hatch, the small larvae emerge and will begin to feed. Get some quotes. After a while, the species in the peninsula was recognized as T. walsinghami. They tend to congregate where theres plenty of food to eat, high humidity, and minimal disturbances. The adults mate and deposit their eggs which over time will result in these bagworms on your walls and ceilings. In most states there is only one generation per year. As the worm grows it spins a silken bag around its body, camouflaged with bits and pieces of the host foliage. You can quickly remove a ton of bags hanging on your ceiling by using a garden hose with a spray nozzle. I find that using a combo of various repellents, bagworm removal methods, sticky traps, and natural deterrents work best. Plaster bagworms mainly survive on wool and spiderwebs. Bags on spruce will look completely different from those on arborvitae or honey locust because the host plant material is incorporated into the bag. Next, use the sharp end and puncture the bagworm case while its stationary on the ceiling. Im With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. Spring - Egg hatch occurs from late May to early June, at which time the larvae crawl out in search of food. These compounds are effective at making quick work of bagworms and preventing future infestations. Its a chain reaction, but a catch-22 at the same time. 1997). Use a standard shop vac or upright vacuum with a hose attachment and suck up any bagworms you come across. Make a soap water mixture and then grab an old sponge that youre about to throw out. Hinton HE, Bradley JD. Crawling insects are not effective because they rarely go upside down on your ceiling and have the ability to puncture the casing of the larvae bagworm. The best course of action is to vacuum everything. So they have both a crawling and flying phase. After all, the last thing you need is harmful toxic residues floating around your home just to keep some bagworms out. 1933. You can keep bagworms away by using a combination of home remedies. It is silk-lined inside and open at both ends. The eggs can incubate over the winter before hatching into a large population of young plaster bagworms! Webs of insects such as booklice (Psocoptera) and webspinners (Embioptera) from tree trunks were also suitable food. And once they hatch into their adult counterparts, they become moths and can fly throughout your home which can lead to more damage. After a month-long metamorphosis process, the moths will ditch their casing and search for males to mate. If you have a particularly challenging plaster bagworm problem and want some advice, send us a message. You can also use a long pole to scrape them off, but this could result in your crushing them which can damage your ceiling. Household Pests. Kea (1933) could not observe this insect feeding on dried insects in the laboratory, even though small portions of dried insects were found attached to its case. Get into cracks and crevices and clean up all the organic matter wedged in there over time. However, bagworms are moths in the family Psychidae. Aiello (1979) succeeded in rearing specimens of the related species Phereoeca allutella by offering them dead mosquitoes and her own hair. These little buggers are truly an interesting pest with their distinct life phase and a big old case they lug around behind them. Each constructs a small bag around its hind parts with silk and plant material. Too terrified to puncture them. Theyre likely a different species altogether, but heres a tip. Life cycle of bagworms The adult female moth does not leave the bag the caterpillar created. The Entomologist 89: 4247. Some bagworms will eat fibers such as rugs, furniture, clothing, and other natural fibers- especially wool. Preferably one that doesnt damage your paint finish. The household casebearer,Phereoeca uterella, is a moth in the Tineidae family of Lepidoptera. Plaster bagworms are not harmful to humans. CRC Press. If you have bagworm infestations in your trees, this is likely a different type of species- not a plaster bagworm. They fly fairly well, but usually rest on walls, floor edges, or on webs of house spiders (theridiids) (Aiello 1979). Its only the wool items you have to protect. Plaster bagworm life cycle Bagworms have a two-part life cycle. The inside of the arch is lined exclusively by silk, and is gradually extended to form a tunnel, while the larva stays inside. Theyre considered to be caterpillars at this point. Spiders are considered to be a beneficial insect because they help catch and kill various pests like flies, beetles, flying pests, earwigs, roly-polys, etc.. 156, new series. Consider attracting sparrows, woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and other common garden avian species to your yard. The bagworm life cycle encompasses four stages - egg, larvae, pupal, and mature adult. The maxillary palps are smaller than the labial palps, and are folded inwards. Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend against plaster bagworms. Biology: This moth is closely related to the Household Casebearer, which is discussed separately and which is a distinct species. Since webs are largely transparent and invisible, you can use a flashlight and shine it around darker corners of the room to make sure you dont miss any. Then place them around your yard to keep the bagworms away. 232 pp. Do some research. Photograph by Juan A. Villanueva-Jimnez, University of Florida. They can also be found on the interior and exterior surfaces of your house, and a variety of materials like wood, brick, and stucco. Its a passive way to repel them and stop plaster bagworms without having to do any work. And of course, be safe with anything that can puncture. I find that simply using a pen taped to rod or pole is enough. Males are smaller (wing span: 7 to 9 mm) and thinner than the female, with a less distinctive wing pattern. But when you only see ONE end, such as when it hangs from your ceiling, its not pupating yet and the caterpillar still can come out and move around. They crawl around and forage for food (debris, detritus, webs, wool, fabrics, furniture, etc.) Some observations on the plaster bagworm, Tineola walsinghami Busck (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). This kills the plaster bagworm instantly. There are many types and brands of sticky tape and traps. The ventral prolegs are white, and are located on abdominal segments 3 to 6 and 10. Consider keeping spiders out of your property by using a variety of home control remedies: The best way to prevent spiders is to keep your home free of pests. I live in a condo on Miami. Use a vacuum cleaner or dish soap to dislodge them and get rid of them. The caterpillar larvae rarely can be seen by people. Or just seal up those cracks with caulk to prevent further pests from sheltering there. Whatever you call them, these insects have several distinct traits. At non-air-conditioned room temperature in Panama, the life cycle of Phereoeca uterella (a close relative of Phereoeca dubitatrix) was reported by Aiello (1979) as follows: Eggs require more than 10 days to hatch. Inside your house, protective cocoons can appear anywhere. However, proper identification by a specialist is advised, because case-bearing species other than P. uterella might be in those states. In South America, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham is known to be present in Brazil (state of Para) and Guyana. All have wingless (or nearly wingless) adult females that do not leave their bags, and the males are usually drab blackish shades. Even though itll kill the baby bagworm, youll be left with a bunch of egg debris and bagworm guts all over your walls. Reproduction Patterns of Bagworms In the spring, the bagworm eggs hatch and each larva leaves the bag by releasing a thin silk thread and floating down out of the bag. You can get rid of household casebearers using similar home remedies to bagworms such as essential oils, manual removal, soapy water, and vacuuming. Food habits of Tineola uterella. They have two long visible antennas and a wingspan of about 12mm in length. So if you have a lot of bagworms, this is why. Take a broom to those high corners near the ceiling. For example,Phereoeca allutella(Rebel) has been recorded in Hawaii, Panama, Canary Islands, Madeira, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, India, Java and Samoa. Bagworms move about freely to feed, and they carry their bags with them. They often do free home inspections and can answer your questions about bagworm control. Life Cycle (Back to Top) Eggs require more than 10 days to hatch. Figure 1. Plaster bagworms like to accumulate in garages and attics where most homeowners dont have proper cooling equipment. However, regular cleaning practices, increased use of air conditioning in houses, and reduced number of woolen goods in this part of the country, along with pesticide application in cracks and crevices for household pest control, have decreased the incidence of the household casebearer. Your email address will not be published. Theyll eat old webs because of the silk fiber necessary to produce their case. Eggs are soft, pale bluish, and about 0.4 mm in diameter. The larva has three pair of well-developed, brown legs. Theres a visible tuft of hair on the head and wing edges. With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. He also assumed that this species might be present in the coastal areas of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Phereoeca uterella is a species of moth belonging to the family Tineidae. Any place where spiderwebs accumulate will become a feasting ground for plaster bagworms. These funky insects can be quite annoying, but arent too difficult to handle as long as you take the right approach. Later cases are flattened and widest in the middle, allowing the larva to turn around inside. pp. For plaster bagworms, this is usually on ceilings, walls, and other humid areas with plenty of debris for the larvae to consume. It is possible that records of Phereoeca uterella might be misidentified as this species or vice versa. Larva: The larva is not usually seen by most people. These little buggers have some other common names: Because the household casebearer and the plaster bagworms are so alike, theres a lot of confusion between the two species. Creighton JT. 2000. The silk lining allows orifices at both ends. 1997). Figure 5. An Introduction to the Study of Insects. What time of year do you spray for bagworms? Once the larvae hatch, the larvae begin to spin a silk strand and hang down from it. Most people know this species by the name plaster bagworm. Start by using the techniques listed here that you can do right away. Plaster Bagworm 6,145 views May 5, 2021 Phereoeca uterella is a species of moth belonging to the family Tineidae. A lot of leading companies have green or natural approaches, so find one that has alternative pest control treatments and ask about them. And if you have any questions, just leave a comment and Ill get back to you. Of course, monitor your tape and traps to check the progress. Hetrick LA. At the tip of each proleg there is an ellipse formed by 23 to 25 very small crochets (a small hook). The females will deposit up to 200 eggs by attaching them to surfaces where the larvae are likely to have a food source. The case that it carries around wherever it feeds is what is immediately recognized. until they pupate. He also assumed that this species might be present in the coastal areas of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Follow the directions on the package at all times. If spiders have nothing to eat, then they wont spin a web. The key is to only plant whats in season and grows in your hardiness zone. In the fall, you can actually go around and pick the sacks off the trees yourself. After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. The ceiling and believe me , I look! Eggs take about 1-2 weeks to hatch but vary depending on environmental conditions, species, and temperature. Furthermore, household casebearer larvae did not eat cotton products offered by Kea. The insect might use nearby lint, sand, or even dry plaster debris. And if all else fails, consult a professional exterminator. Sharyn. However, the name household casebearer is now accepted under Phereoeca uterella, rather than the plaster bagworm. I created this site to offer my 8 years of natural pest control experience to the public. Moths cant help but fly towards the light. Go ahead and mix a bucket full of water and a few drops of dish soap. If you have ichneumonid wasps, you can attract them to your yard by planting flowers that attract wasps and avoiding ones that dont. And dont release pressure at any point. It can be found under spiderwebs, in bathrooms, bedrooms and garages. Adult male household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham. Spiderwebs are some of the most sought-after foods for these bugs, which is why they spend so much energy latching themselves high up on your walls. Both ends of the case are identical and are used by the larva to hide. I still dont so There are two pairs of buccal appendages called palps. Anything below 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit should be more than enough to deter plaster bagworms from coming in. They start as a caterpillar (known as the larvae) and crawl around with the silk bag tied to their backs. Cases can be found on wool rugs and wool carpets, hanging on curtains, or underneath buildings, hanging from subflooring, joists, sills and foundations; on the exterior of buildings in shaded places, under farm sheds, under lawn furniture, on stored farm machinery and on tree trunks. Be careful not to scrub too hard as some paint finishes are sensitive to soap. 1989. What is the best chemical to kill bagworms? Bagworm is a caterpillar that molts into a moth in the adult stage. Visit the EDIS website at, . Plaster bagworms arent inherently dangerous. Bagworms eggs look like pale blue seeds and are usually cemented onto walls with debris or silk. It also attacks certain deciduous trees such as black locust, honeylocust, and sycamore. Most people know this species by the name plaster bagworm. They start appearing in spring and the population increases over time until august and September. At the tip of each proleg there is an ellipse formed by 23 to 25 very small crochets (a small hook). Walking into a cool home is like stepping into a completely different environment! Braconid wasps are effective at killing the larvae and will stop them from pupating. Plaster Bagworm 101: How To Get Rid Of Them Quickly, How To Get Rid Of Plaster Bagworms In Your House, 21 Plants That Repel Wasps (Highly Effective), How To Get Rid Of Skinks: Everything You Need To Know, How To Keep Fruit Flies Away From Bananas (Simple Tips). As mentioned earlier, these bugs dont eat cotton or nylon. You should turn off or reduce your patio lights where possible. University of Florida, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 536. So then I created this site to share everything Ive learned over the years (and continuing to learn)- natural solutions that are proven to work against the bug thats bugging you! Youll often find 1-2 spindle bags hanging from the twigs. Even though mating, hatching, and lifecycle times vary depending on the environment, all the bagworm species in YOUR environment should have nearly the same event times during their lifecycle. Adults at rest hold their wings tented over the body. In fact, one female wasp can kill up to 300 bagworm eggs within its short 7 to 14 day lifespan. Female adults will keep their bags, which has her pupal case and this is where the eggs are deposited. The resilient fibers of a spider web make them extremely durable to the elements (theyre resistant to rain, wind, and sunlight) and this provides a longstanding food for bagworms. Theres no limit to where the cases are found. So if you can keep moths away from your property, youll have fewer bagworms to deal with. Start out with what you have available in your home already (the easiest ways), then move on to the harder ones assuming that you still have plaster bagworms crawling around your house. Turns out, there are a ton of DIY home remedies you can do for free (or damn close to free) without having to spend money on expensive and dangerous chemicals. Bagworms life cycle are differentiated into separate stages, much like any other organism. Aiello (1979) believes the plates protect the larva from natural enemies when it reaches out of its case for locomotion. So, what about the actual bug? And the trick isnt to smear them because thatll just break the egg. If you want to learn how to get rid of plaster bagworms, youve come to the right place. Adult: Adult females have a wing span 10 to 13 mm long. Pour some into a spray bottle or garden sprayer and then prime it up. The heads of both sexes are uniformly clothed with dense, rough hairs. Most of the biology described here was taken from Aiello's (1979) description of Phereoeca allutella, a closely related case-bearing moth species from Panama. ), They dont do anything but attract flying pests, burn electricity, and attract spiders which spin webs nearby (which may be why you have a bunch of. Use your machines attachments to suck up spiderwebs and plaster bagworm sacs as you see them. Put on a pair of garden gloves, goggles, and long sleeves because were going to get dirty! Once the eggs hatch, the larva spins a silk strand that hangs down it. Turn off the porch and security lights (especially at night) to ensure that the moths stay away. Keep it handy for the next time you encounter one. Dont worry. And dont forget about the light that comes from inside your home. A bug zapper can also be effective for controlling nighttime moths. However, bagworms are moths in the family Psychidae. Always empty your vacuum bags or dump out the canister. 1003 pp. The cases are constructed by the larval (caterpillar) stage and often attract attention when found in homes.