There, the larva moves slowly, revealing only part of its body before immediately retreating to its shelter. This behavior has attracted the interest of experts and observers, as it represents an extremely effective survival strategy.
The life cycle of the sheath butterfly begins when the adult female lays between 35 and 50 eggs near food sources.
About a week later, the eggs hatch and the larvae emerge, almost immediately beginning to build their characteristic case. From then on, their main objective will be to feed and grow until the end of their development.
Their diet consists of materials containing keratin, a protein found in animal products. They can therefore feed on wool, feathers, fur, insect remains, paper, and even organic particles present in household dust. Since their consumption is quite low, they rarely cause damage.
