Clothes moth

Tineola Bisselliella

The clothes moth is 4-9 mm long. The forewings are shiny yellow, the hindwings somewhat lighter with a wingspan of 14 mm. Females lay 100-200 eggs individually on various fabrics. The caterpillars hatch after approx. 14 days, the development period to butterfly is approx. 3 months at room temperature. In heated rooms 3-4 generations per year, in unheated rooms 2 generations. The 15 cm long tubes are typical. The mostly dirty yellow-white caterpillars of the clothes moth cause pitting and bald patches on woolen fabrics, furs, upholstery, carpets, etc. Wool fibers, textiles and furs that have not been worn for a long time are mainly infested. Fur moth : Insects that live on and damage furs and wool textiles in a similar way to clothes moths. They also cause the same damage.