r
78 i Circular N0. 15. .
K i known for centuries, and the insects were doubtless widely dis-
tributed over the globe at an early period of our history.
One of our moths (Timmla biselliella) is uniformly pale
· brown, the wings unmarked, narrow, pointed, and heavily
fringed; about 0.18 to 0.20 inch to the tips of the folded wings.
. These moths appear in Kentucky in May and June. placing ‘
eggs during these months on any exposed woolen fabrics and
i among other animal products kept about us. The young of this l`
i insect makes no case until ready to become a pupa, when it spins
K a cocoon of silk attaching to it bits of gnawed particles so as `
' , . to give it a rough exterior.
'l`he second Kentucky clothes-moth (Tirtea pelliortella) is e
· the more common of the two locally and at times, tho gen-
erally in households the other species is more often seen. This »
K insect, when a larva, makes about itself a cylindrical case, open
at each end, and these are often seen in numbers on walls and
. other surfaces about obiects upon which the insect has been
, allowed to feed undisturbed for a long period. The moth is of
l the same general form as' the other, but is plainly marked with
V several blackish dots. The pupae are formed within the cases,
in the spring of the year, the insect having wintered as a larva, T
' and moths appear `during the summer months.
. If moths are already at work on garments it is sometimes
e best to fumigate with bisulfid of carbon. This can be done—by
placing the clothing in a chest and introducing a sponge satu-
rated with the fluid and set in a bowl or saucer on top of the
infested objects. Caution is necessary in using bisulfid of car-
t bon because of the inflammable nature of its fumes. No fire
should be brought about while the fumigation is going on.
Fumes of burning sulphur cannot be used safely because
· of their bleaching effect on the colors of fabrics.
Garments can be safely kept during the summer in tightly
closed paper sacks or scaled strawboard boxes. Neat receptacles
with hooks for suspending and of such size that garments like
ovcrcoats, business suits. and gowns, need not be folded, are
on the market, and cost from 50 cents to $1.50 apiece. Under
some circumstances saturating fabrics, like carpets, with ben-