Clothing moth
(Tineola bisselliella)
Adult beetle: 9–16 mm
Larva: 10–12 mm
Identification marks
The forewings are straw-yellow, the back wings grey-yellow and surrounded with grey lashes. The moth’s head is russet coloured. The size varies significantly between the different moth populations.
The length of the larva is around 10 mm. It is light in colour, which varies, depending on the larva’s food. It lives in a small tube that it makes out of fluff, so any textiles damaged by the larva can be recognised due to the large amount of fluff, unlike textiles damaged by fur beetles, which eat a clear, sharp hole into the cloth.
Occurrence
The clothing moth is not a native species of Finland. Adult moths may fly around during all seasons. It is usually apartment-specific and quite rare these days. Clothing moths have been found in the insulation materials of building structures, if they are made of animal hair. This is why they are also called “building structure moths” in Finnish, although the species is the same.
Moths occurring in apartments are usually from old products, which have been brought in from an old storeroom.
Damage
The larva eats wool fibres and makes holes into cloths. In particular, goods felted from raw wool and carded yarn are vulnerable to damages caused by clothing moths.
Prevention and extermination
Damages can be prevented by storing unused woollen clothes and furs in plastic bags. The larvae will die during freezing or clothes washing. They are exterminated in the same way as fur beetles.