24 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Fig. 14 Webbing or southern clothes moths: 

 adult, larva, cocoon and empty pupal skin; 

 enlarged. (After Riley) 



are small, grayish yellow moths or millers, indistinctly dark 

 spotted and having a wing spread of less than half an inch. The 

 progeny of not all small moths are injurious to fabrics, though 

 several such destructive species occur in this State. 



Description and habits. The most common form in New York 

 State is known as the case-making clothes moth 1 easily recognized 

 in the immature stage by the cylindric case which the small cater- 

 pillar drags around as it moves from place to place. 



The webbing or southern clothes moth 2 is stated to be the more 



abundant and injurious spe- 

 cies in the latitude of Wash- 

 ington though it occurs far- 

 ther north. This species is 

 about the same size as the 

 preceding and has uniformly 

 pale yellowish wings. The 

 young or caterpillar does 

 not construct a case but 

 lines its runways with fine 

 silk. This destructive cater- 

 pillar feeds on a variety of 

 animal materials, having been found in woolens, hair, feathers 

 and furs, and is frequently a troublesome pest in museums. 



The tapestry moth 3 is rare in this country and is larger than 

 either of the other two, hav- 

 ing a wing spread of about i 

 of an inch. The base of the 

 forewings is black, the outer 

 portion being a variable 

 creamy white. This larger 

 species displays a marked 

 preference for the heavier fab- 

 rics, such as carpets and 

 horseblankets and may be 

 found in felting, furs, skins, carriage upholstering, etc. 



Control measures. Clothes moths, like carpet beetles, fleas and 

 some other household pests, thrive best in situations where there 

 is relatively little disturbance. Clothing used almost daily and 

 other fabrics subject to frequent handling, brushing or sweeping 



'Tinea pellionella Linn. 

 2 T i n e o 1 a biselliella Hum. 

 3 Trichophaga tapetzella Linn. 



Fig. 15 Tapestry moth: adult, enlarged, 

 (After Riley) 



