4-H CLUB INSECT MANUAL 



29 



Figure 71. — Clothes 

 moths. 



Lepidoptera. It can be controlled by cleaning out all the old corn 

 meal in the cracks and crevices of the pantry, or by poison gas. 



Clothes moths. — There are other small moths not quite so large 

 as the one just described that are found most frequently around 

 clothes closets where woolens and furs are stored. These insects are 

 of a uniform fawn color, and the wingspread is only about one-half 

 an inch. Each of the four wings is much nar- 

 rower than those of most of the butterflies and 

 moths. These insects are the clothes moths. 

 Clothes moths have complete life changes. The 

 young of the moths — the small white larvae — 

 chew holes in woolen clothes and the mohair 

 fabric on furniture. These moths do not feed 

 on any vegetable product such as rayon or cot- 

 ton. The larvae pupate where they have been 

 feeding. There are three or more generations, 

 and breeding is continuous throughout the year if buildings are 

 heated. The best control is prevention by frequent airing, sunning of 

 clothes, and storing in mothproof containers. The clothes moth 

 shown here is the kind known as the webbing clothes moth (Tineola 

 biseUiella) . It, like other moths, belongs to the order Lepidoptera. 



Webworms. — During the summer and fall there appear in the 

 grasses a number of small moths that fold their wings closely about 

 their bodies when at rest. They usually rest with 

 their bodies forming an angle with the stalk of grass 

 on which they alight, the front part of their bodies 

 being farthest from the stalk. The palpi (mouth 

 parts) are much elongated and extend beyond the 

 head. The moths of this group belong to the genus 

 Crambus. Owing to their peculiar resting position 

 and extension of the palpi, they are readily distin- 

 guished from other small moths. The larvae of the 

 Crambus are called sod webworms because they usu- 

 ally feed in a web on the roots of grass plants, 

 where they overwinter. The wings of these moths 

 are buff to light brown in color with a spread of from 

 % inch to 1% inches. The life changes are com- 

 plete. The insects quite often cause considerable 

 damage to corn and other members of the grass family, and cultural 

 practices are suggested for control. The species shown here is quite 

 commonly called the larger sod webworm; the specific or scientific 

 name is Crambus trisectus. 



Clear wing moths. — Any boy 

 or girl who has found an insect 

 like the one illustrated here per- 

 haps has had a hard time decid- 

 ing whether it belonged to the 

 order including the butterflies 

 and moths (order Lepidoptera), 

 or to some other group of in- 

 sects having clear wings. These 

 moths do not have scales cover- 

 ing the entire wings, as do most 

 of the others, but careful exam- figure 73 — cieanving moth. 



Figure 72. — Web 

 worm moth. 



