Deer, J. A.

Gunter, A. C.

English

Texas A&M University

L-156
By
A. C. Gunter and J. A. Deer, Extension EntomoloAists
Texas A. and M. ColleAe System
Life History and Habits
rmmature Larva
Case bearing Larva
or four days to three or four weeks de-
pending on the temperature.
Clothes moths feed upon animal sub-
stances such as wool, hair, fur, feath-
ers, and a wide range of commodities
manufactured from these materials.
The newly hatched larva immediately
starts feeding and spinning a shelter of
silken threads in which it conceals it-
self. Clothes moths require from about
fifty days to three years to complete
their development; that is, through the
egg, larval, and pupal stages. Most of
this time is spent in the destructive
larval stage.
Most dwellings are infested by
clothes moths, regardless of the loca-
tion. Their abundance is influenced by
the temperature and humidi ty in the house
and the thoroughness of house cleaning.
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The clothes moths that are ordi-
narily troublesome are small and have
a wingspread of about half an inch.
The webbing clothes moth is uniformly
yellowish or buff-colored; the case-bear-
ing clothes moth is similar in color but
has indistinct dark spots on the wings.
The moths fly lazily in darkened
corners, are not attracted to lights,
and usually conceal themselves in dark
folds of clothing, cracks, and other
dark places. The parent moth does not
eat. Each female may deposit about 100
eggs which are loosely attached to the
host and hatch in from a period of three
Control
Spray the interior of closet walls,
particularly around the baseboards and
edge of the floor, with five per cent DDT.
This offers the housewife a simple and
effective means of protecting garments
from flying adults. Remove clothes be-
fore spraying so walls can be thoroughly
treated.
Sweaters and other woolens which
are to be stored for seve~al months in
dresser drawers may be protected by
spraying the drawers thorou-ghly wi th five
per cent DDT. The garments also may be
lightly dusted on both sides with five
per cent DDT dust. Care should be taken
to prevent the introduction of larvae or
eggs on the material to be stored first
by dry-cleaning them. DDT has no fumiga-
tion action and kills only on cuntact or
by consuming it.
Furs or feathers may be dusted
li~htly with DDT. The powder can be
easily shaken out before garments are
worn.
Carpets arid rugs can be treated with
five per cent DDT dust or spray. Apply
the material liberally under the carpet
on top of the pad. A light application
should also be applied to the top side.
Dry cleaning kills all forms of
moths at the time of treatment, but does
not impart resistance. Garments placed
in paper bags, so sealed to prevent re-
infestations, ill remain free from moths
indefinitely.
Issued by
The Agricultural Extension Service
The Texa A. & M. Colle~e S)stem and
The United St tes Department of Agriculture
G. G. Gibson. Director. College Station. Texas.
Cooperativ Ext n ion Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. The Tex •• A. and M. College Syatem and the
United St tea Dep rtm nt of -Agriculture Cooperating. Di tributed in furtherance of the Acta of Congress
of y 8 nd Jun 30. 1914.


Clothes Moths.

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/160950/2/156/Leaf0156.pdf

Clothes Moths.

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