Smaller numbers of individuals also occur outside human settings, with larvae being found in birds’ nests, feeding on droppings and detritus.

[5] Larvae are active June – April, during which they spin silken tubes with the food they eat, leaving behind deposits of frass and silk.

They require relatively high humidity for successful development to maturity, and the duration of their pupal stage is shortened by a higher ambient temperature.

[5] The brown house moth is considered a serious pest in domestic and commercial settings because of the larvae's destructive feeding habits.

These include stored cereals, dried fruit, seeds, clothes and furniture fabric, fur, and wood floor inlays.

[10] Their destructive power is probably largely attributable to their unusual ability to degrade keratin, which is mediated by lactic acid bacteria present in their midgut.