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. Spray when the bags are smaller than 0.5 and are visibly feeding. The larvae of the species of Tineidae of economic importance. Female adults will keep their bags, which has her pupal case and this is where the eggs are deposited. Orkin Termite Treatment, Pest Control & Exterminator Service | Orkin Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. Theyll emerge when temperatures pick up in the springtime, so the best time to find a bunch of them is during the winter. Life history and behavior of the case-bearer. You only want to pass the sponge edges over the eggs and push them off- dont CRUSH them. Inside the bag the caterpillar transforms to the moth stage. State of Florida, Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee. Moth traps can help catch the adult bagworm moths and reduce the number of progeny in the future. 156, new series. It is possible that records of Phereoeca uterella might be misidentified as this species or vice versa. If you want to learn how to get rid of plaster bagworms, youve come to the right place. They start as a caterpillar (known as the larvae) and crawl around with the silk bag tied to their backs. Also, read all warnings and labels on any kind of application you use as a home remedy on your property. If youre trying to get rid of plaster bagworms, consider cranking up the AC a bit more than normal. There are six to seven larval instars that require about 50 days to mature. Both ends of the case are identical, and are used by the larva to hide. The larva is not usually seen by most people. 47: 251346. At the tip of each proleg there is an ellipse formed by 23 to 25 very small crochets (a small hook). They often do free home inspections and can answer your questions about bagworm control. Perhaps for this reason, the accepted common name ofPhereoeca uterellais now listed as the household casebearer, instead of plaster bagworm (Bosik et al. 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. Plaster bagworms breed and mate unusually compared to most other bugs you may be used to. Many species in this family are casebearers and a few are indoor pests of hair fibers, woolens, silks, felt and similar materials. Many species in this family are casebearers and a few are indoor pests of hair fibers, woolens, silks, felt, and similar materials. It was found in Gainesville, Florida, and has been recorded as present in the southern contiguous US, Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Europe, Africa, Malaya, Australia, and other localities. Plaster bagworm life cycle Bagworms have a two-part life cycle. Also, unsuspecting guests wont even know the real reason for those plants and will never even hint that you have a bagworm infestation in your home! Swap your outdoor lighting to yellow bulbs or just dont turn on your lights at night. The heads of both sexes are uniformly clothed with dense, rough hairs. Keep in mind that severe bagworm infestations on your trees may require the help of a professional, especially for taller trees that you cant reach the upper branches or twigs. These compounds are effective at making quick work of bagworms and preventing future infestations. Some people and pets may be sensitive to essential oils, talcum powder, diatomaceous earth, boric acid, etc. One end of the case is then modified. You can control and manage plaster bagworms in your home and garden using a variety of DIY home remedies. The antennae are filiform (threadlike), as long as the wings, and are held back over the body. Always try, assess, and adjust as needed. It is silk-lined inside and open at both ends. 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. Adult: Adult females have a wing span 10 to 13 mm long. Aiello (1979) succeeded in rearing specimens of the related species Phereoeca allutella by offering them dead mosquitoes and her own hair. You can quickly remove a ton of bags hanging on your ceiling by using a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. Creighton JT. After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. That said, these bugs can cause a lot of damage around your house. This pupal phase spans about 16 days on average. 1956. The bag will usually have a mixture of soil, felt, woolens, hair, sand, feces, fibers, and other debris they harvest from your home. The moth larva is protected from the elements through the case and can be found enclosed within the material. 156, new series. The host plants can be a variety of trees . By the end of this article, you should have everything you need to know to manage, control, and eliminate these pests. Plus, you dont have to deal with the bug guts if you squish one yourself. Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend against plaster bagworms. The larvae hide in the case and shield from predators. And they may also attack shrubs. Here are some additional references you may find helpful: You should now have a solid foundation of knowledge to go ahead manage, control, and eradicate plaster bagworms from your property. However, bagworms are moths in the family Psychidae. Life Cycle Management Common name: . Hetrick (1957) found that the most common and abundant food of the household casebearer in Florida is old spider webs, consumed in large quantities. In most states there is only one generation per year. Hetrick LA. If you have a part of your house thats not insulated or cooled, consider taking steps to change that. After a while, the species in the peninsula was recognized as Tineola walsinghami. However, we usually see only the empty larval or pupal cases of the household casebearer on walls of houses in south and central Florida. I keep my apartment clean. As the worm grows it spins a silken bag around its body, camouflaged with bits and pieces of the host foliage. By late summer . The case that it carries around wherever it feeds is what is immediately recognized. Youll want to focus on eliminating SPIDER WEBS because this is their favorite thing to munch on. If you dont suspect that you have a severe bagworm problem and that theyre just concentrated in one area, try manual removal. And dont forget about the light that comes from inside your home. When it comes to how to organically kill bagworms, the birds do it best by going around the tree and eating the worms. Introduction The household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella, is a moth in the Tineidae family of Lepidoptera. Revised July 2005, April 2010, April 2014, and April 2017. Fortunately, getting rid of plaster bagworms is pretty easy if you take the proper steps. These are basic sticky traps with a scented bait that you can find at any hardware store. If you do find their cases stuck on your clothing or furniture, double-check for more so you can confirm it wasnt a fluke. The entire cycle from egg to adult averages 74.2 days (62 to 86 days). The inside of the arch is lined exclusively by silk, and is gradually extended to form a tunnel, while the larva stays inside. You can make your DIY bagworm killer at home using the following recipe: Mix them gently, but avoid excessive foaming of the dish soap. There are some that believe that the real legs help it walk on floors, while the false legs that have hooks on the ends allow it to walk inside its protective case. The insect might use nearby lint, sand, or even dry plaster debris. They tend to congregate where theres plenty of food to eat, high humidity, and minimal disturbances. Plaster bagworms arent picky about their food source and will eat any organic matter left behind. Another related species of case-bearing moths is Praececodes atomosella (tecophora) (Walker 1863). The remaining mouth parts are reduced, and adults do not feed. While it might not seem complex, theres a right and wrong way to deal with these insects! The antennae are filiform (threadlike), as long as the wings, and are held back over the body. Plaster bagworms are so distinct that many people refer to them as a separate entity entirely. Life cycle Young bagworms on juniper foliage Florida Entomologist 17: 66. The larvae will emerge from their case and walk around bringing the case alongside them. Each bagworm generation lives just long enough as adults to mate and reproduce in their annual cycle. Perhaps for this reason, the accepted common name of Phereoeca uterella is now listed as the household casebearer, instead of plaster bagworm (Bosik JJ, et al. Your email address will not be published. For example,Phereoeca allutella(Rebel) has been recorded in Hawaii, Panama, Canary Islands, Madeira, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, India, Java and Samoa. Your email address will not be published. The larvae of all create protective cases out of plant materials or other debris. After they pupate, they emerge as an adult moth. The key is to only plant whats in season and grows in your hardiness zone. Bagworm cocoons are the nests where the caterpillars live. Of course, wasps themselves arent friendly and you definitely dont want them hanging around for too long. 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. Upon hatching, the entire lifecycle of the plaster bagworm can be completed in about 2-3 months. Youll need to get a lengthy object with a pointed end to make punctures. Work with the birds that are already in your neighborhood and find out how to get more for them to your garden. Its only the wool items you have to protect. You can use Bacillus thuringiensis (variant kurstaki Btk), which is a microbe bacteria that are extremely effective at eliminating bagworms but only when used at the right period of their lifecycle. What time of year do you spray for bagworms? The larval case is a slender, flat, fusiform, or spindle-shaped case which resembles a cantaloupe or pumpkin seed. You mention how to get rid of these pests, but you dont say how to keep them from coming back into your house? 39-43. If you have a particularly challenging plaster bagworm problem and want some advice, send us a message. If you see a lot of worms caught, thats a sign that you have plenty of bags around and you should add other methods to get rid of them. 1954. This is true during the period of their lifecycle when they pupate in the larvae case. You can reduce the humidity in rooms where you see them dangling from the roof by doing the following: Set up box fans or air circulators to keep moisture moving (point them at windows and doors facing OUT of the room that has high humidity). In northern Illinois, bagworm caterpillars hatch in early June in most years. 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. 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. Things like deck lights, patio lights, pathway markers, security lights, and any other light source thats not necessary should be turned off. It probably wont move anywhere, but may nudge or flinch. The larval case is a slender, flat, fusiform or spindle-shaped case which resembles a pumpkin seed. To address the wool problem, keep all of your items in sealed plastic bags. Due to the active international exchange of goods, other case-bearing moths may occur in Florida in the future. After it pupates into a moth, the adult moth can fly and will abandon the empty case. Plaster bagworm, the destructive household pest The white-grey cocoon-like things on your walls and ceilings can cause damage to your belongings and should be removed to prevent infestation.. For spiderwebs, clean your house regularly. Aiello (1979) indicates that the number of instars may vary among individuals of both sexes. 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. 1957. They remain in the pupal stage an average of 15.6 days (range of 11 to 23 days). Inside your house, protective cocoons can appear anywhere. In Florida, this braconid and an ichneumonid wasp,Lymeon orbum(Say), were reared from the household casebearer (Hetrick 1957). Well, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension, these wasps live for only two weeks (remember, not where they can cause contamination, sting, or bite, but inside of bagworm eggs), and die shortly after. If you suffer from allergies, the mere presence of these bugs can cause problems as well. 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. For instance, this video combines the two terms and uses them synonymously: Note that bagworms are moths in the family Psychidae, while household casebearers are moths in the Tineidae family. This is a cost-effective approach to repelling bagworms and completely natural so you dont need to worry about pesticides and poisons. State of Florida, Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee. See if its working or not. 1933. The adults mate around the same time, which means the larvae eggs are deposited simultaneously. After all, the last thing you need is harmful toxic residues floating around your home just to keep some bagworms out. You dont need to make a huge hole in it. Adult male household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham. She remains inside while the winged, male moth does emerge to fly about the infested tree to locate the waiting female. You can also set up moth traps to catch any adults that attempt to lay eggs to stop future pest problems. Plaster bagworms mainly survive on wool and spiderwebs. Life history and behavior of the case-bearer Phereoeca allutella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Put on a pair of garden gloves, goggles, and long sleeves because were going to get dirty! Hetrick (1957) observed the insect in many parts of Florida and Louisiana, as well as USDA records of the household casebearer from Mississippi and North Carolina. Always empty your vacuum bags or dump out the canister. Read some reviews. Larva: The larva is not usually seen by most people. Bagworm is a caterpillar that molts into a moth in the adult stage. Theyre mainly attracted to a stable food source with minimal disturbances. A bug zapper can also be effective for controlling nighttime moths. The females cement the eggs to surfaces with a mixture of debris. 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.
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