7.19.2011

What Insect is This?!?

For the longest time, I've been wondering what insect is this, hanging (sticking) on the wall, on the ceiling, on the cornices of our house, in the office, in school....

We even watched it pop its head in and out, with the worm-like body coming out of the "shell" and crawling up on the wall!


I finally decided it was time to share this insect to all of you and hoping someone out there would enlighten me, and the kids too, on what this really is!  It's really bothersome that a few of these simply appear out of nowhere and find their way on our walls and cornices.

That's one insect on the wall making it's presence felt beside my dresser below -- see right side, it's not dirt from the photo, it's that nameless thing.

And here is the thing, up close, in action... head out... then head pulling back in...

...and now it's completely hidden and "safe" inside its cocoon-like house, inconspicuously stuck on the wall.
the larvae

We had seen several of these in different sizes, from a few millimeters to as big as a centimeter long.

What is THIS?!? Please...anyone?


UPDATE:  
Many thanks to my very knowledgeable readers who shared references to this mystery insect, problem solved!  Finally, we have a name:

Plaster Bagworm
"This is related to a clothes mothsSome consider it a type of clothes moth. 
This one occurs in more tropical (warm/wet) climates and is called the plaster bagworm. 
See Clothes Moths and Plaster Bagworms for a good bulletin. The larva (worm sticking its head out the top in photo) constructs the bag from bits of material it is feeding on. 
See Living with Bugs for control information in general. The plaster bagworm feeds on spider webs so cleaning and removal of spider webs is important for this particular species."

 - Jack DeAngelis, www.livingwithbugs.com


Plaster bagworms are also known by the name household casebearer, pests that are not dangerous but can be damaging.

The larva feeds on rugs, clothing, fabrics made of natural fibers like silk and wool. They also feed on cobwebs, dead insects and shed human hair. 

Watch this video of the Plaster Bagworm in action!


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