With the
decreased use of preventive pesticides, the incidence of museum
items damaged by the Webbing Clothes moth has increased
significantly in recent years. Items primarily affected include
woolens, anything containing feathers, animal mounts and
skeletons. Woolen items injured by clothes moths have holes eaten
through them by small, white larvae. You can often find hairs
falling from animal specimens that the larvae are feeding upon.
Materials left undisturbed for some time or stored in dark places
(such as a closet, attic, or drawer) are most severely injured by
these insects. The adults are small and champagne-colored. They
can often be seen running over the surface of the infested goods
when exposed to light or flying somewhat aimlessly about the
houses or closets.
Food:
Clothing moth larvae feed on wool, hair, feathers, furs,
upholstered furniture, occasionally on dead insects, dry dead
animals, animal and fish meals, milk powders such as casein, and
nearly all animal products such as bristles, dried hair and
leather. Adults do not eat.
Life Cycle:
Adult moths lay 100-150 eggs. The larvae is the damaging stage.
They are white and vary in size from 1/16" when first hatched
up to 1/3" when full grown. The length of the larval period
depends largely on the environmental conditions and the quality of
food
Trap use and
placement Click here
for traps: This trap is hung indoors in closets and
rooms where woolen, silk fabrics, furs, or items with feathers are
stored. One trap per closet or storage room can attract and catch
the male moths. This trap will act as an early warning tool to
help prevent destruction of woolen items and other fabrics.
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