Tineola bisselliella

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Tineola bisselliella
Tineola.bisselliella.7218.jpg
Tineola bisselliella.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tineidae
Genus: Tineola
Species:
T. bisselliella
Binomial name
Tineola bisselliella
(Hummel, 1823)
Synonyms

Numerous, see text

Tineola bisselliella, known as the common clothes moth, webbing clothes moth, or simply clothing moth, is a species of fungus moth (family Tineidae, subfamily Tineinae). It is the type species of its genus Tineola and was first described by the Swedish entomologist Arvid David Hummel in 1823. It and a number of closely related species are together known as the clothes moths due to their role as pests in human households. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella – for example by G. A. W. Herrich-Schäffer, when he established Tineola in 1853. [1] [2]

Contents

The larvae (caterpillars) of this moth are considered a serious pest, as they can derive nourishment from clothing – in particular wool, but many other natural fibres – and also, like most related species, from stored foods, such as grains.

Description

Tineola bisselliella is a small moth of 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) body length and 9–16 mm (0.35–0.63 in) wingspan [3] (most commonly 12–14 mm or 0.47–0.55 in). [4] The head is light ferruginous ochreous, sometimes brownish-tinged.The antennae are thread-like and about four-fifths the length of the forewings. Forewings pale yellowish-ochreous; base of costa fuscous. Hindwings ochreous grey-whitish. [5] [6] [7] [8] (it is distinguished from similar species by its yellow-brown or ochreous colouring and red-orange tuft of hair on the head). [9] A .The larva is white, eventually almost transparent, with a brown head. It lives in a silk tube.

Life cycle

Females lay eggs in clusters of between 30 and 200, which adhere to surfaces with a gelatin-like glue. These hatch between four and ten days later into near-microscopic white caterpillars which immediately begin to feed. They will also spin mats under which to feed without being readily noticed and from which they will partially emerge at night or under dark conditions to acquire food. Development to the next stage takes place through between five and 45 instars typically over between one month and two years until the pupal stage is reached. At this point, the caterpillars spin cocoons and spend another approximately 10–50 days developing into adults. [10]

After pupation is complete, the adult moths emerge and begin searching for mates. Females tend to move less than males, and both sexes prefer scuttling over surfaces to flying— some adults never fly at all. Adults can live for an additional 15–30 days, after which they die (otherwise death takes place shortly after mating for males and shortly after egg laying for females). Life cycle may be completed within one month under the most favorable conditions (75 °F (24 °C) and 70–75% relative humidity) but may take several years (lower temperatures and humidity will only slow development, larvae will still hatch and grow at temperatures as low as 10 °C (50 °F) and can survive up to 33 °C (91 °F)). [11] [12]

Unlike the caterpillars, the adult moths do not feed: they acquire all of the nutrition and moisture they need while in the larval stage, and once they hatch from cocoons their only goal is to reproduce. Adult mouth parts are atrophied and cannot be used on fabric or clothing. All feeding damage is done by the caterpillar (larval) form. [13] The moths are seasonal in the wild, however heated buildings allow clothes moths to develop year-round. The overall life cycle from egg to egg typically takes 4–6 months, with two generations per year. [13]

Range and ecology

Adult specimen in flight Tineola.bisselliella.mounted.jpg
Adult specimen in flight
Larval form XN Tineola bisselliella 0.jpg
Larval form
Closeup of a common clothes moth Mebel'naia mol'.jpg
Closeup of a common clothes moth
Macrophotography of a freshly laid, non-sticky egg measuring less than 1 mm EggOeuMiteTineola.JPG
Macrophotography of a freshly laid, non-sticky egg measuring less than 1 mm
Two T. bisselliella mating Kleidermotte.JPG
Two T. bisselliella mating

This moth's natural range is the western Palearctic, but it has been transported by human travelers to other localities. For example, it is nowadays found in Australia. The species' presence has not been recorded in France, Greece, Slovenia and Switzerland, though this probably reflects the lack of occurrence data rather than absence. [14]

This species is notorious for feeding on clothing and natural fibers; they have the ability to digest keratin protein in wool and silk. The moths prefer dirty fabric for oviposition and are particularly attracted to carpeting and clothing that contains human sweat or other organic liquids which have been spilled onto them; traces of dirt may provide essential nutrients for larval development. Larvae are attracted to these areas not only for the food but for traces of moisture; they do not require liquid water. [10]

The range of recorded foodstuffs includes linen, silk and wool fabrics as well as furs. They will eat synthetic and cotton fibers if they are blended with wool and may use some cotton to build their cocoon. [13] Furthermore, they have been found on shed feathers and hair, bran, semolina and flour (possibly preferring wheat flour), biscuits, casein, and insect specimens in museums. In one case, living T. bisselliella caterpillars were found in salt. They had probably accidentally wandered there, as even to such a polyphagous species as this one pure sodium chloride has no nutritional value and is in fact a strong desiccant, but this still attests to their robustness. [15] Unfavorable temperature and humidity can slow development, but will not always stop it.

Both adults and larvae prefer low light conditions. Whereas many other Tineidae are drawn to light, common clothes moths seem to prefer dim or dark areas. If larvae find themselves in a well-lit room, they will try to relocate under furniture or carpet edges. Handmade rugs are a favorite, because it is easy for the larvae to crawl underneath and do their damage from below. They will also crawl under moldings at the edges of rooms in search of darkened areas where fibrous debris has gathered and which consequently hold good food. [13] [10] Larvae can also sometimes act as bookworms, chewing through paper (which provides them no nutrition) to reach book bindings or mold colonies for nourishment. [16] [17]

Close-up photo showing the compound eyes of T. bisselliella Clothes moth.jpg
Close-up photo showing the compound eyes of T. bisselliella

Pest control

Airtight containers should be used to prevent re-infestation once eggs, larvae, and moths are killed by any of the following methods. [18] Control measures for T. bisselliella (and similar species) include the following:

Synonyms

The common clothes moth is such a widespread and frequently seen species that it has been described time and again under a variety of junior synonyms and other now-invalid scientific names: [32] [33]

References

  1. Pitkin, Brian; Jenkins, Paul (2004). "Tineola". Butterflies and Moths of the World, Generic Names and their Type-species. 2004-11-05. doi:10.5519/s93616qw . Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. Savela, Markku (2018). "Tineola". Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  3. "11. Tineidae". Stichting Tinea. Tinea Foundation. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  4. "Species Tineola bisselliella - Webbing Clothes Moth - Hodges#426". Bugguide. Iowa State University. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  5. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London. pdf PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Keys and description
  6. Reinhard Gaedike, 2019 Tineidae II : Myrmecozelinae, Perissomasticinae, Tineinae, Hieroxestinae, Teichobiinae and Stathmopolitinae Microlepidoptera of Europe, vol. 9. Leiden : Brill
  7. Zagulajev, A.K., 1990 Tineidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 2 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
  8. Pelham-Clinton E.C., 1985.Tineidae. In: The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Heath J & Emmet AM, eds) 2: 152–207.
  9. VanRyckeghem, Alain. "Bad Bugs: Clothes Moths". insectslimited. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 "Webbing Clothes Moth" (PDF). MuseumPests.net. Integrated Pest Management Working Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  11. John A. Jackman; Bastiaan M. Drees (1 March 1998). A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Taylor Trade. p. 227. ISBN   978-1-4616-2291-8 via Google Books.
  12. Jane Merritt; Julie A. Reilly (16 January 2010). Preventive Conservation for Historic House Museums. Rowman Altamira. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-7591-1941-3.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Choe, D.-H. "Clothes moths". UC IPM Online. Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  14. ABRS (2008), FE (2009)
  15. Grabe, Albert (1942). "Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen" [Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars](PDF). Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins (in German). 27: 105–109.
  16. "Identifying and controlling clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverfish". Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. Parker, Thomas A (1988). Study on integrated pest management for libraries and archives, General Information Programme and UNISIST, UNESCO. PGI.88/WS/20. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000082141.locale=en
  18. "Solutions: Isolation/Bagging". MuseumPests.net. Integrated Pest Management Working Group. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  19. "Solutions: Carbon Dioxide Treatment". MuseumPests.net. Integrated Pest Management Working Group. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  20. "Insect Mortality under Anoxia". Keepsafe. Keepsafe Microclimate Systems. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  21. Daniel, Vinod; et al. (25 October 1993). "Nitrogen Anoxia of The Back Seat Dodge 38: A Pest Eradication Case Study". WAAC Newsletter. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  22. 1 2 "Solutions: Nitrogen/Argon Gas Treatment". MuseumPests.net. Integrated Pest Management Working Group. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  23. "Solutions: Low Temperature Treatment". MuseumPests.net. Integrated Pest Management Working Group. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  24. Arnault, Ingrid; Decoux, Michael; Meunier, Emilie; Hebbinckuys, Tom; MacRez, Stephane; Auger, Jacques; De Reyer, Dominique (2012-07-01). "Comparison in vitro and in vivo efficiencies of three attractant products against webbing clothes moth Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)". Journal of Stored Products Research. 50: 15–20. doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2012.03.004. ISSN   0022-474X.
  25. 1 2 Prakash, Om; Banerjee, J.; Parthasarathy, L. (July 1979), "Preservation of Woollens Against Clothes Moths and Carpet Beetles" (PDF), Defense Science Journal, 29: 147–150
  26. Sunderland, Matthew Richard; Cruickshank, Robert Hamish; Leighs, Samuel J. (2014). "The efficacy of antifungal azole and antiprotozoal compounds in protection of wool from keratin-digesting insect larvae". Textile Research Journal. 84 (9): 924–931. doi:10.1177/0040517513515312. S2CID   135799368.
  27. "Aldrin/Dieldrin". US Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008.
  28. Sunderland, M. R.; Cruickshank, R. H.; Leighs, S. J. (2014). "The efficacy of antifungal azole and antiprotozoal compounds in protection of wool from keratin-digesting insect larvae". Textile Research Journal84 (9): 924–931. http://trj.sagepub.com/content/84/9/924
  29. 1 2 3 Ingham, P. E.; McNeil, S. J.; Sunderland, M. R. (2012). "Functional finishes for wool – Eco considerations". Advanced Materials Research, 441: 33–43. http://www.scientific.net/AMR.441.33
  30. "Raid Ingredients".
  31. Ghosh, G.K. (2000). Biopesticide and Integrated Pest Management. APH Publishing. ISBN   978-8-176-48135-9.
  32. Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) (2008). "Tineola bisselliella". Australian Faunal Directory. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  33. Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Tineola bisselliella". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index . Natural History Museum . Retrieved 2020-02-13.