192 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



clothing we should find the case-making species more 

 abundant. A more detailed investigation of the life 

 history, habits, and distribution of these moths is much 

 needed. 



The moths (Fig. 52) of the case-making species are 

 small, measuring only about half an inch from tip to tip 



of the tiny wings when 

 they are squarely ex- 

 panded. The fore wings 

 are of a shining yellowish- 

 brown color with three 

 distinct dark spots on 



FIG. 52. -Case-making clothes moth. each Q f them> wh y e the 



hind wings are smaller 



and lighter in color and clothed with a fringe of long 

 slender scales along the posterior margins. 



Normally, the moths appear in the spring and may be 

 seen flitting about rooms most of the summer. They are 

 apparently attracted more or less by lights and are fre- 

 quently seen flying aimlessly about a lamp at night. The 

 moths, of course, are innocent enough, so far as any actual 

 direct damage to clothing is concerned. Nevertheless 

 much energy is expended by the careful housekeeper in 

 catching and killing them. This energy, however, is not 

 wholly lost, for if the moths are allowed to live, they may 

 deposit eggs for the production of larvae, the real authors 

 of the injury. Undoubtedly, many small, harmless 

 moths are often mistakenly destroyed for the more injuri- 

 ous clothes moths. 



The tiny eggs of this moth are tucked away among the 

 folds of the garments upon which the larvae are expected 

 to feed. When they hatch, the minute white-bodied 



