For example, Phereoeca allutella (Rebel) has been recorded in Hawaii, Panama, Canary Islands, Madeira, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, India, Java, and Samoa. Theyre not as bad as dust mites and cockroaches, but allergy-sufferers can still feel the effects of their presence. Try a few of them out and see what works best for you. The larvae can damage your ceiling, walls, stucco, and other materials over time, though this can be fixed for most infestations. Pupation occurs inside the case. The eggs then remain stuck inside the bag, which is then usually found on your ceiling, walls, and yard. Most trees will recover, but sick or younger trees may be destroyed by bagworms. They can be damaging and destroy significant parts of the tree which results in damaged foliage. The eggs of the bagworms hatch around the springtime. Common Names of Insects & Related Organisms. Moth traps can help catch the adult bagworm moths and reduce the number of progeny in the future. 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. Leaving them in there allows them to escape. It's only the wool items you have to protect. The entire cycle from egg to adult averages 74.2 days (62 to 86 days). The wind will then carry it to another host plant, where it will attach and start creating its own bag. Bagworms overwinter as eggs in the bag of the mother. 232 pp. The females lay more than 200 eggs in a small, protective casing. 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. The bagworm is a perennial insect pest of arborvitae, juniper, pine, spruce, and many other evergreen species (including Christmas trees). Control of four household insects. If you absolutely need a light to be overnight, consider replacing them with a yellow bulb. The bagworm nest is made of silk, twigs, and bits of leaves. The plaster bagworm has 4 life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. After mating, females lay their eggs on crevices and the junction of walls and floors, cementing them on debris. And once they hatch into their adult counterparts, they become moths and can fly throughout your home which can lead to more damage. A fully developed larva has a case 8 to 14 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide. Florida Entomologist 40: 145146. Boca Raton. Also, read all warnings and labels on any kind of application you use as a home remedy on your property. A fully developed larva has a case 8 to 14 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide. After a month-long metamorphosis process, the moths will ditch their casing and search for males to mate. Dont scrub up and down. Entomologica Americana 13: 151-203. Plaster bagworms are found in coaster states where temperatures are high and humidity is prevalent. So, you need to get rid of plaster bagworms in your house. Eggs take about 1-2 weeks to hatch but vary depending on environmental conditions, species, and temperature. It can be found under spiderwebs, in bathrooms, bedrooms and garages. Over many months, you may end up with a TON of plaster bagworms, especially if you dont keep your home maintained. The entire cycle from egg to adult averages 74.2 days (62 to 86 days). You can get rid of household casebearers using similar home remedies to bagworms such as essential oils, manual removal, soapy water, and vacuuming. Any bags that are still alive can be killed by dunking them into a bucket of soapy water. Some bagworms will eat fibers such as rugs, furniture, clothing, and other natural fibers- especially wool. The bags gradually enlarge as they feed during the summer to house the growing caterpillar. If not, move up the ladder and try the more extensive remedies to get rid of them. With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. I live in a condo on Miami. Control of four household insects. Youre getting rid of plaster bagworms by getting rid of OTHER pests first. The antennae are filiform (threadlike), as long as the wings, and are held back over the body. Theyre known to not attract any moths and provide a source of backyard lighting. By the end of this article, you should have everything you need to know to manage, control, and eliminate these pests. The cases are thin and flat similar to a pumpkin seed. Bulletin No. I cant sleep. You may find them attached to branches, twigs, plants, and other debris outside with a small piece of silk. Adult females have a wing span 10 to 13 mm long. The Entomologist 89: 4247. They mate during the peak season and the larvae will overwinter in their bags so they survive the winter. 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. The maxillary palps are smaller than the labial palps, and are folded inwards. Three pairs of legs are visible and it can extend and contract from the case. The caterpillar is only about a quarter of an inch long. Get into cracks and crevices and clean up all the organic matter wedged in there over time. To address the wool problem, keep all of your items in sealed plastic bags. Be careful not to scrub too hard as some paint finishes are sensitive to soap. by finding a recipe online, Eliminating crawl spaces, cracks, and other points of entry, Sealing up foundational or structural damage, Sprinkling diatomaceous earth around your property, Using talcum powder, baby powder, or boric acid in common areas of spider infestation, The key is to only plant whats in season and grows in your hardiness zone. These become the host plants for the larvae for further development in the moth life cycle. 1956. Theyll be actively feeding on various debris around the home and you can capture and kill most of them when you spray during this time. You might also find them hanging off of exterior stucco, near outdoor lights, or underneath chairs and benches. This may help prevent the future generation of bagworms from developing because the Bt eats up the larvae and prevents them from spawning. When disturbed, it encloses itself in the case by pulling the bottom side up. See 3-4 a day. Psyche 86: 125136. State of Florida, Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee. Just a small perforation is enough for the dish soap to kill the bagworm. Now that you know how to get rid of plaster bagworms, its time to put in the time to reclaim your home. This kills the plaster bagworm instantly. Appear and theyre a phobia now. Luckily, these bugs will typically leave your cotton and nylon alone. The larva is a caterpillar that carries the case/bag along with it as it forages. Remember that even the smallest web strand provides a complete meal for these pests, so dont skimp on the cleaning. Bagworms life cycle are differentiated into separate stages, much like any other organism. If you suffer from allergies, the mere presence of these bugs can cause problems as well. Aiello (1979) believes the plates protect the larva from natural enemies when it reaches out of its case for locomotion. 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. The same year Kea wrote about the food habits of the species present in Florida, using the name given by Walsingham (T. uterella). The household casebearer,Phereoeca uterella, is a moth in the Tineidae family of Lepidoptera. The same year Kea wrote about the food habits of the species present in Florida, using the name given by Walsingham (Tineola uterella). University of Florida, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 619. 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. 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.) Entomological Society of America. Also, apply sticky traps outdoors to catch any adult moths. The first record of this species came from Lord Walsingham in 1897 (Busck, 1933). 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. And they may also attack shrubs. It was found in Gainesville, Florida, and has been recorded as present in the southern USA, Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Europe, Africa, Malaya, Australia and other localities. 1933. They remain in the pupal stage an average of 15.6 days (range of 11 to 23 days). 1956. Are you seeing their bag (cases) dangling from your garage ceiling? This makes it difficult to do for a typical homeowner and should only be used if you know what youre doing. Hinton HE, Bradley JD. No pest control company wants to work with this. 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. 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. Arnett Jr RH. Plaster bagworms are unwelcome guests that can quickly wreak havoc on your home. The adult female will deposit hundreds of eggs which hatch into larvae. Due to the active international exchange of goods, other case-bearing moths may occur in Florida in the future. Pheno Forecast maps predict key life cycle stages in invasive and pest species, to improve management efficacy. Household Pests. If you have ichneumonid wasps, you can attract them to your yard by planting flowers that attract wasps and avoiding ones that dont. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even though itll kill the baby bagworm, youll be left with a bunch of egg debris and bagworm guts all over your walls. The larva walks up a vertical surface and attaches the case at both ends with silk. What is the best chemical to kill bagworms? Follow the directions from the manufacturer and see if it helps get rid of the plaster bagworms. Life Cycle (Back to Top) Eggs require more than 10 days to hatch. I may be able to help you out! 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. The larvae hide in the case and shield from predators. Theyre mainly attracted to a stable food source with minimal disturbances. Some observations on the plaster bagworm, Tineola walsinghami Busck (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). They immediately begin feeding on host plants. 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. Manual removal takes time, but this is one way to clear out a room full of bags. Both ends of the case are identical and are used by the larva to hide. The most identifying characteristic is the bag for which it gets its namesake! This will help deter and repel bagworms naturally. The remaining mouth parts are reduced, and adults do not feed. By late summer . They dont bite or cause any physical pain if you touch them. 1997). Adult female household casebearer, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham. And thats why they can suddenly show up in huge numbers. The adult moth will merge from the case, complete with a full wingspan. Eventually, the plaster bagworm becomes a moth. The tunnel is closed beneath by the larva to form a tube free from the substrate, and open at both ends. 1957. Are you squeamish to even think about a caterpillar pulling a big bag around (and hiding in it)? Check the. Once the eggs hatch, the larva spins a silk strand that hangs down it. In South America, Phereoeca uterella Walsingham is known to be present in Brazil (state of Para) and Guyana. Dehumidifiers are often placed in basements, but there are other use cases for them, such as in closets where you store damp clothes or other smaller areas where too much moisture can cause a problem such as bathrooms, RVs, boats, and more. 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. Finally, stick to a routine vacuuming schedule. The case is only about half an inch long. proper identification by a specialist is advised, because case-bearing species other than Phereoeca uterella might be in those states. Your feedback is how I write more improved and detailed pest guides. Watson (1939) corroborated the preference of Pjerepeca uterella for woolen goods of all kinds. 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. These compounds are effective at making quick work of bagworms and preventing future infestations. Then spray the bagworm and the dish detergent will enter the bag. The larvae are moved to nearby trees and shrubs with the help of wind. Since there are many different types of bagworm species, this depends on the type youre dealing with. Furthermore, household casebearer larvae did not eat cotton products offered by Kea. But for everything else, they should be a minimal threat. Due to its food habits the household casebearer is a potential household pest. Curiously enough, plaster bagworms are the larval stage of a moth! If you dont suspect that you have a severe bagworm problem and that theyre just concentrated in one area, try manual removal. You also may scrape your paint finish, so get in there by hand. A braconid wasp, Apanteles carpatus (Say), parasitizes larvae of case-bearing moths, killing the larva before pupation. It secrets silk to build a foundation at both ends and uses various debris to add to the case. They are really gross and now its a phobia for me. Thats why theyre so prevalent in states like Florida. Photograph by Juan A. Villanueva-Jimnez, University of Florida.