Insect of the Month: Casemaking Clothes Moth
The casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) is a small, fabric-damaging moth known for its habit of constructing a silken case or “bag” around itself, which it carries for protection as it feeds.
What do Casemaking Clothes Moth look like?
- Casemaking Clothes Moth Adults: Up to 8 mm (0.3 inches) long with shiny grey to brown 1-3 small spots on wings. Has a small tuft of brown hairs on top of head.
- Casemaking Clothes Moth Eggs: Oval, ivory in color and 1 mm (0.04 inches) long.
- Casemaking Clothes Moth Larvae: Creamy white, black head capsule, 13 mm (0.5 inches) long, found within a silken case that it carries.
- Casemaking Clothes Moth Pupae: Pupal cases are whitish; often patterned with colored fibers; sometimes hidden in fabric or fur; up to 13 mm (0.5 inches) long.
What is the Casemaking Clothes Moth life cycle?
Adult moths live for 15-30 days. Mated females can lay 40-50 eggs singly or in groups. Eggs hatch in 4-10 days in warmer months and up to 30 days in cooler months.
Larvae feed and become mature in 35 days or and up to 30 months depending on food quality, temperature and humidity.
Pupation will occur in proximity to and within infested materials. Adults will emerge from the pupae in 8 to 40 days depending on temperature.
Damage & Detection
Casemaking clothes moth larvae damage woolens, silks, furs and materials made with hair and feathers. The primary means of detection of casemaking clothes moth is the presence of silken cases that contain larvae.
During pupation, the silken cases can be found hanging from vertical surfaces and under horizontal surfaces such as shelves or bottoms of furniture.
These pupal cases can also be found within piles of carpet and rugs or underneath these materials.
Granular frass, the size of ground pepper, can be found in, on, and under fabric, furs, taxidermy mounts, hanging clothes in closets, rugs, carpets, and upholstered furniture. The use of pheromone traps and inspections can determine location and degree of infestation.
Fun Facts about Casemaking Clothes Moth
Sometimes confused with the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and brown dotted clothes moth (Niditinea fuscella).
Other common names for the casemaking clothes moth include common clothes moth and clothes moth.
Like many clothes moth species, adult Casemaking clothes moths do not eat. Their larvae are vivacious feeders and damage natural fibers.
Casemaking clothes moths initiate flight at temperatures above 12.5°C (55°F).
The pheromone that attracts Casemaking clothes moths also attracts other moth species including:
- Webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella)
- Brown dotted clothes moth (Niditinea fuscella).
