654 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



opposite side, and on each side of the other half of its case which is 

 then lengthened by additions to either end; a variegated suit will thus 

 result from the caterpillar feeding on the different colored materials. 

 When full grown the caterpillar transforms within this case through a 

 tiny, brown pupa in about three weeks to the moth or adult stage. 

 The moths "choose darkness rather than light" and are comparatively 

 short lived. In the North there is but one generation of the case-making 

 clothes-moth in a year, the moths appearing from June to August. 

 Fortunately for the housewife this clothes-moth rarely occurs in the 

 caterpillar or destructive stage in winter even in warm rooms. A some- 

 what larger moth, known as the Indian-meal moth, which infests all 

 kinds of dried grains and fruits is often seen flying about the house and 

 mistaken for the clothes-moth. It can be easily distinguished because 

 its front wings are of a darker reddish-brown color, and it will be found 

 breeding in some forgotten package of breakfast food, pop-corn or 

 dried fruits. 



There is no easy way of keeping woolens and other susceptible materials 

 from the attacks of clothes-moths. Only constant vigilance with 

 frequent inspection and treatment will prevent serious damage from 

 these little foes. Usually they work mostly on things which have been 

 put away and left undisturbed for some time. Articles that are fre- 

 quently used, or rooms that are often aired and swept or used do not 

 afford congenial homes for clothes-moths. Frequent shaking or brush- 

 ing and exposure to air and sunlight are necessary if clothes-moths 

 are to be fought successfully. The various repellants, such as moth- 

 balls, etc., that are commonly used doubtless exert considerable in- 

 fluence in keeping the moths away from stored materials, but all such 

 precautions will be utterly useless if the materials are not thoroughly 

 beaten, shaken or brushed, aired and exposed to the sun-light as long as 

 practicable before they are put away in moth-tight receptacles. Any 

 live moths, eggs or caterpillars which may go with the articles will not 

 be destroyed by the various repellants that may be placed therein. 

 It all depends on having the articles entirely free from any stage of the 

 insect when they are put away. Things may be placed in tight rooms, 

 boxes, trunks, pasteboard boxes, with strips pasted over the edges, 

 or in patent moth-bags, or new flour-sacks. It is usually a good pre- 

 caution to open storage places about once a month, and spray the ma- 

 terials with benzine or carbon bisulfide (these are inflammable materials) 

 after taking them out and thoroughly brushing and exposing them to 

 the sunlight. Large dealers in materials likely to be infested by clothes 



