Plaster worms thrive when the humidity is high. They crawl around and forage for food (debris, detritus, webs, wool, fabrics, furniture, etc.) Bagworms feed on a variety of organic materials. Pheno Forecast maps predict key life cycle stages in invasive and pest species, to improve management efficacy. The case is constructed by the earliest larval stage (1st instar) before it hatches, and is enlarged by each successive instar. You dont want to harm them as theyre a beneficial insect. Many species in this family are casebearers and a few are indoor pests of hair fibers, woolens, silks, felt, and similar materials. The labial palps extend a little beyond the head vestiture (dense covering of hairs). The females cement the eggs to surfaces with a mixture of debris. Try a few of them out and see what works best for you. And they may also attack shrubs. Youll often find 1-2 spindle bags hanging from the twigs. The winters cold weather kills both adult male and female plaster bagworms, but the larvae overwinter by hiding. Wasps are one of the main predators of bagworms, so you should focus on getting more of them to your yard to help clean up the infestation. XVI: Two new genera of clothes moths (Tineidae). Most people know this species by the name plaster bagworm. When disturbed, it encloses itself in the case by pulling the bottom side up. The crochets are used to walk inside the case, and also to grab the case when the larva pulls its head and thorax out and uses its true legs to walk on the floor or walls. Both ends of the case are identical and are used by the larva to hide. Many species in this family are casebearers and a few are indoor pests of hair fibers, woolens, silks, felt, and similar materials. The larva cuts a short slit along both edges to make that end flatter, which acts as a valve. They spread from tree to tree by ballooning (they spin a fine web and use wind currents to infest nearby trees). If you want to learn how to get rid of plaster bagworms, youve come to the right place. Life history and behavior of the case-bearer Phereoeca allutella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). They mate during the peak season and the larvae will overwinter in their bags so they survive the winter. They fly fairly well, but usually rest on walls, floor edges, or on webs of house spiders (theridiids) (Aiello 1979). The bag will usually have a mixture of soil, felt, woolens, hair, sand, feces, fibers, and other debris they harvest from your home. And then utilize these plants to keep the bagworms away: Whatever zone you live in, you should be able to find a few plants. And dont forget about the light that comes from inside your home. household casebearer - Phereoeca uterella Walsingham And if you have any questions, just leave a comment and Ill get back to you. Bull. I keep my apartment clean. Toss them right into the mixture, which will kill them upon contact, and repeat until you see no more bags on your roof! Introduction to Evergreen Bagworm Moths - ThoughtCo Any place where spiderwebs accumulate will become a feasting ground for plaster bagworms. Kea JW. Of course, monitor your tape and traps to check the progress. Females mate with males during the warmer months. The plaster bagworm often is confused with the household casebearer. Where are plaster bagworms found? - Promisekit.org There are known species that will feed on a variety of trees, such as: Youll often find them eating or hanging on the twist, branches, and leaves and may appear in huge numbers. The same year Kea wrote about the food habits of the species present in Florida, using the name given by Walsingham (T. uterella). They often do free home inspections and can answer your questions about bagworm control. Observations on species of Lepidoptera infesting stored products. The larva walks up a vertical surface and attaches the case at both ends with silk. Namely, vespid wasps, woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and other predatory flying insects will eat them up without hesitation. Blast them off and clean them up. Control of four household insects. Too terrified to puncture them. until they pupate. Meanwhile, hooked false legs help it turn around inside the casing. Bagworm Life Cycle. Theyre also not picky about shelter provided that their humidity needs are met. Bagworms: Identification, Tree Damage, Eradication (With Pictures) In South America, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham is known to be present in Brazil (state of Para) and Guyana. 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 spider webs on your patio, outdoor furnishings, etc.). The anterior crochets are bigger and broader than posterior ones by one third, which is a good detail for identification. 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. This kills the plaster bagworm instantly. It has a dark brown head, and the rest of the body is white, except for the lateral and dorsal plates on the three thoracic segments close to the head, which are hardened and dark. As the worm grows it spins a silken bag around its body, camouflaged with bits and pieces of the host foliage. A braconid wasp, Apanteles carpatus (Say), parasitizes larvae of case-bearing moths, killing the larva before pupation. With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. Phereoeca uterella is a species of moth belonging to the family Tineidae. Pay special attention to dusty cabinets and bookshelves. Common Names of Insects & Related Organisms. In northern Illinois, bagworm caterpillars hatch in early June in most years. Hetrick LA. They eventually abandon the case after becoming an adult. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico. The larvae then build the bags you commonly see hanging on your ceiling. It can be found under spiderwebs, in bathrooms, bedrooms and garages. How to Get Rid of Plaster Bagworms Naturally (Home Remedies), But for everything else, they should be a minimal threat. Webs of insects such as booklice (Psocoptera) and webspinners (Embioptera) from tree trunks were also suitable food. Eventually, the plaster bagworm becomes a moth. Plaster Bagworm (Phereoeca spp) - FDL Pest Control Solutions Do they bite? Perhaps for this reason, the accepted common name ofPhereoeca uterellais now listed as the household casebearer, instead of plaster bagworm (Bosik et al. BC Pest Control is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This is when the bag usually sits on a vertical ledge youll commonly see it stuck to your walls. And if all else fails, consult a professional exterminator. Use as directed. State of Florida, Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee. Theres no single foolproof technique. Use a vacuum cleaner or dish soap to dislodge them and get rid of them. This isnt the most efficient home remedy to get rid of plaster bagworms, but you can clean up an infestation quickly without using any chemicals. If you need to resort to chemical pesticides to kill plaster bagworms, heres what youll want to look for. 1954. The larval case is a slender, flat, fusiform or spindle-shaped case which resembles a pumpkin seed. 1997). Visit the EDIS website athttps://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. The fully developed larva is about 7 mm long. Were happy to help. Aiello (1979) believes the plates protect the larva from natural enemies when it reaches out of its case for locomotion. I share handy DIY pest techniques I come across here to help out others (and possibly save them from a mental breakdown). For spiderwebs, clean your house regularly. Dont scrub up and down. Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend against plaster bagworms. 156, new series. There are visible black or gray markings on the forewings. 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. An Introduction to the Study of Insects. Arnett Jr RH. They are really gross and now its a phobia for me. However, Egg: After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. Manual picking or vacuuming of cases and spider web removal should be enough to keep this species under control. They dont scavenge for the same things as cockroaches and other common pests, so theyre free to live in their own little bubble undetected. 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. Theyre considered to be caterpillars at this point. This may help bring down their numbers and keep them out of your home. Hinton HE, Bradley JD. 1954. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Please help. You may see dozens of bags hanging on your roof during this time. However, the specimens that he collected from the Virgin Islands were misidentified. The larvae of all create protective cases out of plant materials or other debris. Watson (1939) corroborated the preference of Phereoeca uterella for woolen goods of all kinds. Specific information of Phereoeca uterella biology is limited. This means they came from an adult female moth and will grow into a moth. The larva, or caterpillar, is rarely seen because it spends most of its time inside that protective casing. Theyre likely a different species altogether, but heres a tip. You can also spray dish soap, vinegar, or essential oils for a residual effect. They have very basic needs and will just need some food to sustain themselves. Regardless, the techniques to get rid of them remain largely the same and are effective for both. Does the thought of a giant moth flying out of the silk bag freak you out? Thats it. Spray when the bags are smaller than 0.5 and are visibly feeding. 39-43. Bagworms on Trees and Shrubs | University of Maryland Extension - UMD pp. Even though itll kill the baby bagworm, youll be left with a bunch of egg debris and bagworm guts all over your walls. XVI: Two new genera of clothes moths (Tineidae). 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. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and Ill get back to you. The complete life cycle of plaster bagworms contains 6-7 instars and takes about 40-50 days to complete. University of Florida, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 619. Most people will see bagworm activity during the warmer months such as August and September. Plaster bagworms breed and mate unusually compared to most other bugs you may be used to. The cases are constructed by the larval (caterpillar) stage and often attract attention when found in homes. Plaster bagworm life cycle Bagworms have a two-part life cycle. Are you seeing their bag (cases) dangling from your garage ceiling? So most species of bagworms will hatch in the springtime. 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. They might stay on your exterior door or near a porch light. Additionally, if you have any tips on eliminating plaster bagworms, drop them below to help out someone else! There are six to seven larval instars that require about 50 days to mature. Im Bagworms arent exactly as pleasant as a butterfly, but theyre not too difficult to get rid of. The cases are constructed during the caterpillar stage (larval) and this is when most people notice them. The adult female will deposit hundreds of eggs which hatch into larvae. Though they can also be found in broad daylight. 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. The eggs are found on crevices, cracks, and joints of doors, walls, and baseboards. Plus, you dont have to deal with the bug guts if you squish one yourself.