I'm not even sure it's an insect: the best I can do is identify it as an arthropod. I captured this slow-moving organism and after a period of observation under high magnification, I concluded that it appears to construct a "shell" from miscellaneous particles or debris. With a scalpel, I carefully cut this outer casing open to observe the organism, and the pictures show what I found. It seems to have six legs, like an insect, but is oddly worm-like and wingless. Total length is approximately 1 cm. I do not believe that this is a juvenile/larval/instar form. I've seen several of these where I live, and they always look like this (with maybe a +/- 20% size variation).
Edit: This specimen was found in San Diego County, California, United States.
Answer
It is the larva of household casebearer moth (a Lepidoptera), named after the larval stage. It is scientifically called Phereoeca uterella.
It is found through out South and North America.
The larva constructs a protective case from silk and camouflages it with other materials such as soil, sand and insect droppings.
References:
Further reading: Household Casebearer, Phereoeca uterella by Juan A. Villanueva-Jimenez and Thomas R. Fasulo
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