Tineola bisselliella

This review summarises the information available on the biology, behaviour and economic significance of the common or webbing (Hummel), currently the most important and widespread clothes moth pest throughout the world. These moths can cause the loss of irreplacable material of aesthetic, historic and scientific importance, as well as damaging every-day items such as clothes, furnishings and other materials prepared from animal fur, wool, feathers and hides. Methods for the detection and control of this pest are outlined, with particular emphasis on control strategies that are environmentally sustainable and avoid the use of conventional and Introduction Clothes moths have been a serious problem for thousands of years, causing damage to clothes, furnishings and other items made from animal materials such as hides, fur and wool. Today the common or webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) is the most important and widespread clothes moth throughout the world. This review has been prompted by the recent increase in problems associated with this pest in some countries, and the need for improved methods of detection and more environmentally sustainable control strategies. The review summarises the published information on the biology and behaviour of T. bisselliella. Methods of detection and pest control are outlined, with particular attention being given to alternatives to the use of conventional pesticides. Section snippets Nomenclature and systematics The common ...

Moth Infestation: Identification and Treatment The humble moth, the weird uncle of the Butterfly family. We have all encountered them, usually when you least expect it, flying straight at your face after opening a wardrobe or noisily flapping around a light casting disturbing shadows across the ceiling. Not only do they frustrate us with their endless headbutting of light fixtures but they also have the cheek to eat our clothes, carpets and dry foods while simultaneously spreading moth dust everywhere. Approximately 1,5 million homes across the UK suffer from moth infestations. But with a little effort, you can easily remove an infestation or pre-emptively reduce the chances of those failed butterflies getting a foothold in your home. To help you protect your sweaters, we spoke to our pest control experts and created this guide on how to recognise an infestation and stop it. Moth Infestation Signs Tineola bisselliella It’s also known as Trichophaga tapetzella The Read more: Plodia interpunctella Alternative common names are weevil moth , pantry moth , flour moth or grain moth . They tend to prefer open packets of dry food such as flour, oats and muesli and will silently munch away in the dark. How to Get Rid of a Moth Infestation Now that you know where and what to look for, it is time to get rid of these uninvited guests. • Deep clean your wardrobe. Moths adore dark, warm spaces so take all of your clothes out of the wardrobe and drawers and give them a thorough cleaning ...

Caterpillar The webbing clothes moth larvae have a creamy white body and a brown head, being approximately 1 mm in length when newly hatched. The larval stage could be as short as one month or even as long as five years in which they would go through about 5 to 45 instars. They inhabit the folds of woolen fabrics like sweaters or blankets and some might spin silken patches or tubes there. The feeding mostly takes place inside the tubes, with the larva obtaining its nourishment from the fabric. Adult Moth Sexual Dimorphism:Present but not prominent More than their physical identification, an appropriate way of distinguishing both the sexes is by their flight pattern. The male webbing clothes moths are the active fliers, while their female counterparts are weak. In fact, the ones seen fluttering and moving about around the house are mostly males. The females, on the other hand, remain hidden in between the folds of clothes or try moving by hopping and running. Color and Appearance Forewings: When opened,they have a golden yellow coloration. When closed,the color remains the same except the added shine that is more visible when the wings are folded. Hindwings: When opened,they appear, and when closed,the white color is visible in patches over the golden background. Average Wingspan:1.2 – 1.4 cm Flight Pattern: Consistent Season:February – September Quick Facts Other Names Common clothes moth, clothing moth, wool moth, common moth Distribution Native:Western Eurasia Invasive:P...

The clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) is a common household pest that feeds on the fibres in clothing, carpets and furnishings. They're most active May till October, and can be dealt with using parasitic wasps and pheromone traps. Clothes Moth Quick Facts What do clothes moth eat? It’s actually the larvae form that feeds, not the adult moth. Do moths eat clothes? Yes, they prefer the fibres in wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt and leather, but can eat any types of fibres, including cotton and carpets. Wool fibres This is because all these substances contain keratin, which is a fibrous protein the larvae can digest. They can also feed on your produce indoors. They like dark and undisturbed places, so they’re common in wardrobes, drawers and chests, particularly where clothes are stored for long periods of time without use. For example, your winter wardrobe or clothes you rarely wear. For this reason, they’re particularly prevalent in large, stately homes and storage facilities. So much so English Heritage launched a Believe it or not, clothes moth can also survive in the wild, where the larvae can feed on keratin in dead animals or nesting materials. Can clothes moth eat cotton? Clothes moth can also feed on cotton and polyester, especially if they’re blended with something like wool, or soiled with body oil or stains. Symptoms of clothes moth Clothes moth are very small and pale, and hide in dark places, so they may be hard to see. The first symptom you’ll probably spot is...

Webbing clothes moth larvae with particles of excrement (frass) and other debris. The webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, and casemaking clothes moth, Tinea pellionella, can be fabric pests in California. They tend to hide when disturbed, so you might not notice you have an infestation until after the moths have already damaged your fabric, fur, or feathered items. Close examination of the objects will reveal silken webs the larvae have spun. IDENTIFICATION The webbing clothes moth is the most common fabric moth. The adult is gold with reddish-golden hairs on the top of its head. A row of golden hairs fringes its wings, which have a span of about 1/2 inch. Because these moths are weak flyers that aren't attracted to lights, you'll usually find them close to the infested items, such as in a dark area of the closet. Don't confuse the clothes moth with common food- and grain-infesting moths, which frequently fly around the house. At rest, clothes moths are only about 1/4 inch long, while most food-infesting moths are about double that length. Clothes moths usually fly around only the immediate area of the house where the infestation has occurred, and their flight pattern is distinctive—they tend to flutter about rather than fly in a direct, steady manner as do food-infesting moths. Food-infesting moths also don't have the little tufts of hair on their head. To confirm you have a clothes moth, catch one and examine its head with a magnifying glass or hand lens. The cas...

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1. Tineola Bisselliella Commonly referred to as the clothes moth, the Tineola bisselliella is one of the most known moth species. It thrives most in natural fibers, precisely wool, where it also lays its eggs and where the larvae develop. More so, these moths can also be found in food, especially grains stored away in cabinets. Cloth moth The moth is rather small compared to other species, meaning only seven millimeters in length and a wingspan of nine to 16 millimeters. They have a distinct yellow-brown/ mustard/ ocherous hue on their body and a red-orange hair tuft on their heads. They go through the same 4-stage metamorphosis where the female will lay eggs in clusters of about 100+. After that, the eggs will adhere to the surface and hatch in about a week to its larvae form, which is also known as a Caterpillar. These microscopic whitish caterpillars are the devastating pests because of the damage they can cause to clothes or mats inside your home. 2. Indian Meal Moth Another frustrating house moth is the Indian meal moth also referred to as the pantry moth. As the name suggests, it dwells and thrives in cabinet grains and food where its larvae too develop to the adult moth. They are known to attack just about any food in the house from grains, dried fruits like dates, pet foods, seeds, nuts and even fried milk. Indian meal moth As they feed on the grain, they leave behind a silken thread which then poses a threat to the...

From Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania. Dr. Rohr is from the Department of Dermatology and Dr. Dorion is from the Department of Laboratory Medicine. The authors report no conflict of interest. Correspondence: Bethany R. Rohr, MD, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Health System, 115 Woodbine Ln, Danville, PA 17822-5206 ( Common household insects can be confused with ectoparasites. Understanding the basic identification and monitoring techniques of clothes moths will help the clinician identify if a patient has an infestation of the household versus his/her body. Clothes moth larvae are not parasites but are found on infested clothing and can be confused with myiasis. Practice Points • Clothes moth larvae are common household pests that may be misidentified as a parasitic infection such as myiasis when found on a person. • Understanding the basic biology of clothes moths will help the clinician identify an infestation and appropriately counsel patients that clothes moths do not pose a considerable health risk. • Jacobs S. Clothes moth. Penn State Extension website. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/clothes-moth. Updated January 2013. Accessed May 14, 2018. • Querner P. Insect pests and integrated pest management in museums, libraries and historic buildings. Insects. 2015;6:595-607. • Choe D-H. Pest notes: clothes moths (publication 7435). University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources website. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html. ...