78 Circular No. 15. 



known for centuries, and the insects were doubtless widely dis- 

 tributed over the globe at an early period of our history. 



One of our moths (Tineola biselliella) t is uniformly pale 

 brown, the wings unmarked, narrow, pointed, and heavily 

 fringed ; about 0.18 to 0.20 inch to the tips of the folded wings. 

 These moths appear in Kentucky in May and June, placing 

 eggs during these months on any exposed woolen fabrics and 

 among other animal products kept about us. The young of this 

 insect makes no case until ready to become a pupa, when it spins 

 a cocoon of silk attaching to it bits of gnawed particles so as 

 to give it a rough exterior. 



The second Kentucky clothes-moth (Tinea pellionella) is 

 the more common of the two locally and at times, tho gen- 

 erally in households the other species is more often seen. This 

 insect, when a larva, makes about itself a cylindrical case, open 

 at each end, and these are often seen in numbers on walls and 

 other surfaces about objects upon which the insect has been 

 allowed to feed undisturbed for a long period. The moth is of 

 the same general form as the other, but is plainly marked with 

 several blackish dots. The pupae are formed within the cases 

 in the spring of the year, the insect having wintered as a larva, 

 and moths appear during the summer months. 



If moths are already at work on garments it is sometimes 

 best to fumigate with bisulfid of carbon. This can be done by 

 placing the clothing in a chest and introducing a sponge satu- 

 rated with the fluid and set in a bowl or saucer on top of the 

 infested objects. Caution is necessary in using bisulfid of car- 

 bon because of the inflammable nature of its fumes. No fire 

 should be brought about while the fumigation is going on. 



Fumes of burning sulphur cannot be used safely because 

 of their bleaching effect on the colors of fabrics. 



Garments can be safely kept during the summer in tightly 

 closed paper sacks or sealed strawboard boxes. Neat receptacles 

 with hooks for suspending and of such size that garments like 

 overcoats, business suits, and gowns, need not be folded, are 

 on the market, and cost from 50 cents to $1.50 apiece. Under 

 some circumstances saturating fabrics, like carpets, with ben 



