The heads of both sexes are uniformly clothed with dense, rough hairs. 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. Plaster Bagworm 6,145 views May 5, 2021 Phereoeca uterella is a species of moth belonging to the family Tineidae. Any bags that are still alive can be killed by dunking them into a bucket of soapy water. As long as theres an entryway into your garage, basement, bedroom, dresser, shed, outhouse, or wherever else you see them, thats all thats needed for them to infest your home. The larvae of the species of Tineidae of economic importance. Quick Tip: Youre most likely to encounter plaster bagworms if you live in the Southeastern United States. That said, these bugs can cause a lot of damage around your house. They dont actually eat plaster and only get their name because theyre commonly found in plaster, walls, and hanging from the ceiling. The Entomologist 89: 4247. The bagworm nest is made of silk, twigs, and bits of leaves. Next, use the sharp end and puncture the bagworm case while its stationary on the ceiling. While they might be small, a large population can wreak havoc on all of your prized garments. I keep my apartment clean. But when woolen threads and woolen cloth were offered to the larvae "they ate eagerly". The insect might use nearby lint, sand, or even dry plaster debris. 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! 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. And its natural. They are really gross and now its a phobia for me. Hetrick (1957) found that the most common and abundant food of the household casebearer in Florida is old spider webs, consumed in large quantities. Spiders are considered to be a beneficial insect because they help catch and kill various pests like, Spraying essential oils around cracks and crevices (peppermint, basil, neem, lavender, onion, garlic, citrus, etc.) The larva walks up a vertical surface and attaches the case at both ends with silk. Specific information of Phereoeca uterella biology is limited. In most states there is only one generation per year. Braconid wasps are effective at killing the larvae and will stop them from pupating. 1954. You may see dozens of bags hanging on your roof during this time. The adult bagworms will fly into the zapper and get fried. For spiderwebs, clean your house regularly. The lifecycle of a bagworm is nothing special. The compound eyes are prominent. 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. And thats why they can suddenly show up in huge numbers. The ventral prolegs are white and are located on abdominal segments 3 to 6 and 10. Pests that try to climb up will be stuck on the tape and cant get across. They might stay on your exterior door or near a porch light. Due to its food habits the household casebearer is a potential household pest. Control of four household insects. 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. Not sure why theyre here. They tend to congregate where theres plenty of food to eat, high humidity, and minimal disturbances. Watson (1939) corroborated the preference of Pjerepeca uterella for woolen goods of all kinds. 1003 pp. Aiello A. Required fields are marked *. Control of three household insects. You also may scrape your paint finish, so get in there by hand. The eggs of the bagworms hatch around the springtime. Busck A. Theyre especially prevalent in the state of Florida. Pupation occurs inside the case. Climb up there safely, and start picking them off your ceiling. The caterpillar is only about a quarter of an inch long. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico. Males are smaller (wing span: 7 to 9 mm) and thinner than the female, with a less distinctive wing pattern. University of Florida, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 536. The eggs can incubate over the winter before hatching into a large population of young plaster bagworms! Quick Tip: Dont forget to empty the bag or canister to ensure that the pests are out of your house for good! Its a chain reaction, but a catch-22 at the same time. The larvae of all create protective cases out of plant materials or other debris. The plaster bagworm has 4 life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. But that doesnt mean you should ignore them. This explains why theyre commonly found in environments with already high moisture content such as Florida and other coastal states. No pest control company wants to work with this. They are gray with up to four spots on the fore wings, and a brush of long, lighter gray hair-like scales along the posterior margin of the hind wings. After the bagworm eggs hatch, the larvae start spinning a silk strand that dangles down from the pouch. Survival is the main priority, and houses provide everything that they need to prosper. There are over 1350 different species all over the world. The household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella, requires high humidity to complete its development, a limiting factor for its dispersion throughout the rest of the country. The cases are constructed by the larval (caterpillar) stage and often attract attention when found in homes. 2000. The caterpillar larvae are the larvae phase of their lifecycle. Scales are also visible. Or just seal up those cracks with caulk to prevent further pests from sheltering there. The eggs are small and look like pale-bluish seeds that are stuck on surfaces, usually in a dark area or hidden from view. The case is constructed by the earliest larval stage (1st instar) before it hatches, and is enlarged by each successive instar. This allows them to quickly reproduce and build up to extreme numbers. 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. Currently an active researcher in the pest control industry for the past 8 years- with a focus on using natural and organic methods to eliminate pest problems. Manual picking or vacuuming of cases and spider web removal should be enough to keep this species under control. In fact, one female wasp can kill up to 300 bagworm eggs within its short 7 to 14 day lifespan. You dont need to make a huge hole in it. Lastly, you can also attract natural predators to help eat up moths and larvae like, How to Get Rid of Puss Caterpillars Naturally (Ultimate, How to Get Rid of Hummingbird Moths Naturally (Ultimate, How to Get Rid of Squash Bugs Naturally (Organic DIY, How to Get Rid of Oleander Pests Naturally (Aphids,, How to Get Rid of Mole Crickets Naturally (DIY Guide), How to Get Rid of Pests on Geraniums Naturally (Fast and, How to Get Rid of Glassy Winged Sharpshooters (Naturally), How to Get Rid of Blister Beetles Naturally (Guide). They can also be found on the interior and exterior surfaces of your house, and a variety of materials like wood, brick, and stucco. 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. Theyre safe from the cold temperatures by hiding inside the silk case. You only want to pass the sponge edges over the eggs and push them off- dont CRUSH them. Most people know this species by the name plaster bagworm. Youll need to get a lengthy object with a pointed end to make punctures. It is commonly known as the plaster bagworm but as the term "bagworm" m. hi Anthony, can you teach me how to get rid of lizards ? They are gray with up to four spots on the fore wings, and a brush of long, lighter gray hair-like scales along the posterior margin of the hind wings. Bull. There are six to seven larval instars that require about 50 days to mature. These can also be used as materials for their cases, matching whatever is present in their environment. Theyre the larvae form of moths and have two distinct phases of their lifecycle. You also may come across additional areas of activity. If you want to learn how to get rid of plaster bagworms, youve come to the right place. However, proper identification by a specialist is advised, because case-bearing species other than P. uterella might be in those states. How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Carpet: All Treatments, How To Get Rid Of Ants In Walls (The Simple Strategy). Bosik JJ et al. Theyre considered to be caterpillars at this point. The key is to only plant whats in season and grows in your hardiness zone. After the first case is completed, the larva starts moving around, pulling its case behind. Then scrub your walls with the wet sponge. See 3-4 a day. The silk lining allows orifices at both ends. Egg: After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. Both species follow a similar way of life but have different classifications. 1989. The compound eyes are prominent. I just moved here four months ago. The inside of the arch is lined exclusively by silk, and is gradually extended to form a tunnel, while the larva stays inside. The ceiling and believe me , I look! Clean up water spillages from using the sink, shower, etc. 232 pp. Be sure to use the right food for the right bird species. Juan A. Villanueva-Jimenez and Thomas R. Fasulo, Credit: Juan A. Villanueva-Jimnez, UF/IFAS, This document is EENY003, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. When youre out of ideas, consult a professional (licensed) pest control company. If you absolutely need a light to be overnight, consider replacing them with a yellow bulb. 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. Over many months, you may end up with a TON of plaster bagworms, especially if you dont keep your home maintained. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website athttp://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/. The case has tapered ends that are narrow with a bulging center. Since there are many different types of bagworm species, this depends on the type youre dealing with. This stops the bags from getting up your walls. The caterpillar will pupate and does this inside the case. In 1956, Hinton and Bradley described the new genus Phereoeca, in order to separate the true Tineola from this and other species of flat case-bearing moths. There are two main reasons why you have plaster bagworms in your home or garden: These pests are NOT picky and will show up suddenly out of nowhere. They are easiest to identify by the bags they construct as they feed. After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. Never leave drinks uncapped or opened throughout the day, Use your AC to keep moisture content controlled, Reduce the number of total spiders in your home and youll have fewer webs to deal with. Thats just a waste of time, and probably impossible. Most people will see bagworm activity during the warmer months such as August and September. Youll want to make its secure and wont fall into the mixture and nothing can knock it over. 156, new series. Some bagworms will eat fibers such as rugs, furniture, clothing, and other natural fibers- especially wool. Always empty your vacuum bags or dump out the canister. However, theyre still larvae destined to become moths. The ventral prolegs are white, and are located on abdominal segments 3 to 6 and 10. Hetrick LA. Some bagworm species are parthenogenetic, meaning their eggs develop without male fertilization. Figure 5. The same year Kea wrote about the food habits of the species present in Florida, using the name given by Walsingham (T. uterella). While it might not seem complex, theres a right and wrong way to deal with these insects! With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. Of course, monitor your tape and traps to check the progress. The remaining mouth parts are reduced and adults do not feed. Invest in a portable AC, ductless AC, or window unit to keep every inch of your house climate controlled. This is important to distinguish for ridding plaster bagworms because you can tell which part of the casebearer life cycle the bug is currently in. Watson (1939) corroborated the preference of Phereoeca uterella for woolen goods of all kinds. The winters cold weather kills both adult male and female plaster bagworms, but the larvae overwinter by hiding. Reviewed June 2020. Lastly, you can also attract natural predators to help eat up moths and larvae like predatory wasps (which can also help control cicadas, sawflies, asparagus beetles, and fig beetles) or beneficial lizards. Due to its food habits the household casebearer is a potential household pest. Leave the lamp on overnight. New York. Furthermore, household casebearer larvae did not eat cotton products offered by Kea. They remain in the pupal stage an average of 15.6 days (range of 11 to 23 days). I cant sleep. The entire cycle from egg to adult averages 74.2 days (62 to 86 days). Latin Name: Phereoeca praecox Common Name: Plaster Bagworm Other Names: Wall bagworm Pest Details Origin: This moth may be native to Latin America and is more common in southern California than anywhere else in the U.S. The case is only about half an inch long. After that, set up sticky traps in that area to catch any larvae that crawl across them. Up to 200 eggs can be deposited over a single week. Turn off the porch and security lights (especially at night) to ensure that the moths stay away. One of the most effective ways to get rid of plaster bagworms in your house is to maintain cooler temperatures inside. Pupa: Pupation occurs inside the case. So most species of bagworms will hatch in the springtime. Here is a glimpse into the various Bagworm life stages - The eggs of Bagworm moths hatch in end of May and beginning of June. You can control and manage plaster bagworms in your home and garden using a variety of DIY home remedies. The household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella, requires high humidity to complete its development, a limiting factor for its dispersion throughout the rest of the country. Moths cant help but fly towards the light. Creighton JT. For example, Phereoeca allutella (Rebel) has been recorded in Hawaii, Panama, Canary Islands, Madeira, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, India, Java, and Samoa. Webs of insects such as booklice (Psocoptera) and webspinners (Embioptera) from tree trunks were also suitable food. Original publication date September 1996. The females will deposit up to 200 eggs by attaching them to surfaces where the larvae are likely to have a food source. 156, new series. These bugs often go unnoticed until populations reach massive levels. They start as a caterpillar stuck in a silk case where theyll crawl around your home, eating old webs and debris. Get some quotes. Theyll emerge when temperatures pick up in the springtime, so the best time to find a bunch of them is during the winter. Phereoeca uterella is a species of moth belonging to the family Tineidae. To keep the leaves from blowing away in the wind, put a bunch of them into a nylon sock and tape the sock to the walls around your home. Although this isnt the most efficient way of controlling and managing them, its a safe and quick way to bring down their numbers. Interestingly enough, plaster bagworms dont consume food crumbs or leftovers you leave on the kitchen counter. Whatever you call them, these insects have several distinct traits. Theres no limit to where the cases are found. Take a broom to those high corners near the ceiling. After the first case has been built, the larvae will move around and pull the case. 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. You can make your home more favorable for birds by providing birdbaths, using bird feeders, and placing birdhouses around the area.