498 A DESCRIPTION OP 
THE CLOTHES MOTH. ( Tinea vestianella.) 
THE larva of this little Moth is well known from the da- 
mage it commits in woollen cloth and furs. These sub- 
stances constitute the principal support of the caterpillar, 
and therefore the parent is, by its natural instinct, di- 
rected to deposit its eggs in them. As soon as it quits the 
egg, the caterpillar begins to form for itself a nest : for this 
purpose, after having spun a fine coating of silk immedi- 
ately around its body, it eats the filaments of the cloth or 
fur, close to the thread of the cloth, or to the skin. This 
operation is performed by its jaws, which act in the man- 
ner of scissors. The pieces are cut into convenient lengths, 
and applied, with great dexterity, one by one, to the 
outside of its case; and to this it fastens them by means of 
its silk. Its covering being thus formed, the little cater- 
pillar never quits it but on the most urgent necessity. 
When it wants to feed, it puts out its head at either end of 
its case, as best suits its conveniency. When it wishes to 
change its place, it puts out its head, and its six fore legs, 
by means of which it moves forward, taking care first to 
h'x its hind legs into the inside of the case, so as to drag it 
along. After having changed within its case into a chry- 
salis, it issues, in about three weeks, a small,winged, mealy- 
looking Moth, of silvery drab colour, well known to almost 
every mistress of a family. The best mode of destroying 
this insect, when in the cloth, is to place a saucer of oil of 
turpentine with the articles affected in a close place, when 
the vapour raised by the warm air will immediately de- 
stroy it. Should the caterpillar be old and strong, it may 
be necessary to brush the clothes with a brush, the points 
of which have been dipped in turpentine. Camphor 
wrapped up with furs will save them from the moth. 
