Studies in Mothproofing: Part II: Feeding Damage to Several Kinds of Fibers by the Larvae of Two Species of Clothes Moth, with a Note on Their Life Histories

Abstract

Under natural conditions, Tinea pellionella has two generations (one of 70 and one of 300 days) a year, and Tineola bisselliella has three generations (45, 45, and 250 days) a year. At 25° C Tinea produces about six generations a year of about 55 days each with feeding periods of about 42 days, and Tineola produces eight generations of about 42 days each with feeding periods of about 32 days. Fed on a combination of dried fish or wool with yeast, Tinea larvae develop in about 56 days and Tineola in about 40 days. With dried fish or yeast alone, a longer developmental period is required. Fed with wool alone, all larvae die before long. In both species of moth, the greatest damage is done to wool between the 25th and 30th day after hatching and the amount of damage done by both species is comparable. A medium amount of damage is done to regenerated cellulose fibers and unscoured silk. The damage to scoured silk and chemical fibers is slight. Damage to staple and filament is greater than that to cloth. Especially in Tineola is this last factor related to case building activity of the larvae.