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Clothes Moths. 



moths appearing from June to August, but in the south there- 

 are two or more broods, the moths appearing from January to 

 October. 



The eggs are very small and are usually laid on the food 

 material of the larvae. The larvae are small dull white cater- 

 pillars, the head reddish-brown, and the second segment with a 

 dark brown plate behind. They form a tubular, slightly flattish 

 case, in which they pass the whole of their existence, the head 

 and first few segments and legs being protruded when the 

 caterpillars move from place to place. This case has frequently 

 to be enlarged as the larva grows ; this is done by the insect 

 making a slit half-way down the tube and inserting a patch of 

 new material, then a similar slit is made and filled in on the 

 opposite side, the same operation being performed at the other 

 half of the case, the larva having previously turned round inside 

 the tube. When the tube wants lengthening additions are simply 

 made at each end of the tube. These larval cases are made of 

 the material upon which the insects are feeding ; change of food 

 thus changes the colour of the case, and sometimes when feeding 

 on variously coloured fabrics the cases are multi-coloured. 

 Each case is lined inside by a fine white silk spun by the larva. 

 When mature these cases are spun either to the substance upon 

 which the larvae have been feeding, or more often they wander 

 to the walls and ceilings and then fasten the tubes firmly to the 

 surface with silk. The pupal stage takes place inside the case 

 and lasts from two to three weeks. 



(ii.) The W^ebbing Clothes Moth ( Tincola biselliclla, Hummel) 

 is about the same size as the preceding species and has the front 

 wings pale ochreous and more or less shining, without any spots; 

 the hind wings are whitish and the head reddish-yellow. The 

 larva feeds on a great variety of substances, such as woollen 

 goods, furs, feathers, the linings of chairs and sofas, and has even 

 been found eating cobwebs. The moth appears from March to 

 October and produces two broods in the year. The larva is 

 dirty-white and spins a silken webbing as it progresses over its 

 food material ; no true case is formed as in the preceding 

 species. But when mature it spins a cocoon of pieces of hair 

 or wool of irregular outline, and pupates within it. 



(iii.) The Tapestry Moth ( Tinea tapetzella, L., also known as 



