4-H CLUB INSECT MANUAL 29 
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 and found more 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 narrower 
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 cotton. The *== aE 
lanvdempupateu wheremthey whiavel been! tecding. « ) U60== 12. Clomes 
There are three or more generations, and breed- 
ing 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 (TVineola biselliella). 
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 almost parallel 
with the stalks of grass on which they 
alight, their bodies forming an angle 
with the stalk, 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 ex- 
tension of the palpi, they are readily distinguished from other small 
moths. The larvae of the Crambus are called sod webworms because 
they usually 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 34 to 114 inches. The life changes are complete. 
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 scien- 
tific name is Crambus trisectus. 
Clearwing moths.—Any boy 
or girl who has found an insect 
like the one illustrated here 
perhaps has had a hard time de- 
ciding whether it belonged to 
the order including the butter- 
flies and moths (order Lepi- 
doptera), or to some other group 
of insects having clear wings. 
These moths do not have scales 
covering the entire wings as clo 
cS 
FIGURE 72.—Webworm. 
