50 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Descriptions and habits. A common form is known as the 

 case-making clothes moth,'^- a species easily recognized in the imma- 

 ture stage by the small, white cylindric case inhabited by a whitish, 

 brown-headed caterpillar. The moths normally appear in early 

 spring; they are only about half an inch long and obscurely marked 

 with three dark spots on the forewings. The tiny, white eggs are 

 deposited among the folds of garments. The caterpillars feed and 

 grow slowly, sheltering themselves in the characteristic case. There 

 is apparently but one generation annually and it is stated that the 

 insects do not breed in winter, even in furnace-heated houses. 



The webbing or southern clothes moth -'^ is stated to be the more 

 abundant and injurious species in the latitude of Washington and 

 such appears to be true in both Albany and Ithaca. This species is 

 about the same size as the preceding and has uniformly pale yellow- 



Fig. i6 Webbing or southern clothes moths: 

 skin; enlarged. (After Riley) 



idult, larva, cocoon and empty pupal 



ish wings. The young or caterpillar does not construct a case but 

 lines its runways with fine silk. The minute, white eggs are 

 deposited upon various fabrics and hatch in about 9 days. The 

 development seems to be slow, as in the case of the preceding form, 

 the moths occurring in early spring. This pest feeds upon a variety 

 of animal materials, having been found in woolens, hairs, feathers 

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



The tapestry moth-^* is larger than either of the above-mentioned 

 clothes moths, it having- a wing spread of about three-fourths of an 

 inch. The base of the forewing is black and the outer portion a 

 variable creamy white. This larger species is considered rare in 

 this country, though apparently common in England. It displays a 

 marked preference for the heavier fabrics, such as carpets and horse 



^'2 Tinea pellionella Linn, 

 s'^ T i n e o 1 a b i s e 1 1 i e 11 a Hum. 

 54Trichophaga tapetzella Linn. 



