66 THE CLOTHES MOTH. 



demure moths that fly in such numbers from early in the spring 

 until the autumn. 



Very many do not recognize these moths in their perfect 

 stage, so small are they, and vent their wrath on those great 

 millers that fly around lamps in warm summer evenings. It 

 need scarcely be said that these large millers are utterly guilt 

 less of any attempts upon our wardrobes; they make their 

 attacks in a more open form on our gardens and orchards. 



We will give a more careful description of the clothes moth, 

 which was found in its different stages June 12th in a mass of 

 loose cotton. The larva is white, with a tolerably plump body, 

 which tapers slightly towards the tail, while the head is much 

 of the color of gum-copal. The rings of the body are thickened 

 above, especially on the thoracic ones, by two transverse thick 

 ened folds. It is one-fifth of an inch long. 



The body of the chrysalis, or pupa, is considerably curved, 

 with the head smooth and rounded. The long antennae, together 

 with the hind legs, which are folded along the breast, reach to 

 the tip of the hind body, on the upper surface of each ring of 

 which is a short transverse row of minute spines, which aid the 

 chrysalis in moving towards the mouth of its case, just before 

 the moth appears. At first the chrysalis is whitish, but just 

 before the exclusion of the moth becomes the color of varnish. 

 When about to cast its pupa skin, the skin splits open on the 

 back, and the perfect insect glides out. The act is so quickly 

 over withj that the observer has to look sharp to observe the 

 different steps in the operation. 



Our common clothes moth (Tinea flavifrontclla, Fig. 60) is 

 of a uniform light-buff color, with a silky iridescent lustre, the 

 hind wings* and abdomen being a little paler. The head is 

 thickly tufted with hairs and is a little tawny, and 

 the upper side of the densely hirsute feelers (palpi) 

 is dusky. The wings are long and narrow, with the 

 most beautiful and delicate long silken fringe, which 

 increases in length towards the base of the wing. 



They begin to fly in May, and last all through the 

 season, fluttering with a noiseless, stealthy flight in our apart 

 ments, and laying their eggs in our woollens. 



Successive broods of the clothes moth appear through the 

 summer. In the autumn they cease eating, retire within their 

 cases, and early in spring assume the chrysalis state. 



