Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth (Niditinea fuscella)
Only Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth larvae cause damage. Larvae feed on dried animal and plant material, most often in bird nests and poultry houses, and infrequently on cloth and fiber products.
Outdoors, they are found in bird nests, leaf litter from fallen leaves, and decorative wood mulch around structures. Indoors, they can be found occasionally throughout the structure but more often in basement and attic spaces.
Because they are usually present outdoors, they are found in greater abundance in warmer months, and will be found in monitoring traps less frequently in cooler months.
What do brown-dotted clothes moths look like?
Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth Adults: Adults are 7-8 mm (0.3 inches) long with a wingspan of 14 mm (0.625 inches) long. Forewings range in color from dull brown-grey to shiny gold flecked-with brown and bear three large blackish-brown dots each.
The base of the forewing is also marked with a dark spot or band. Hind wings are a silvery white and are surrounded by a long-haired fringe, like other moths in the family Tineidae. The body is dull brown, and the head bears a tuft of reddish-brown or brown-grey hair.
Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth Eggs: Oval, ivory in color and 1mm (0.04”) long
Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth Larvae: Creamy white, dark brown head capsule, 13mm (0.5”) long
Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth Pupae: Pupal cases are formed within the food source and use material from the actual food. These are roughly the same length as the adult moth.
What is the brown-dotted clothed moth life cycle?
The precise life cycle of this moth is poorly understood. It is likely that it shares some similarities to other moths in the family Tineidae. (See Insect Monitoring Guidelines for webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) for potential life cycle information.
Pheromone Traps for Brown-Dotted Clothes Moths
Monitoring Guidelines for Brown-Dotted Clothes Moth (Niditinea fuscella)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for brown-dotted clothes moths. These guidelines include details on Description, Lifecycle, Damage and Detection, Corresponding Products, Fun Facts, and more!
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Next week we are going to be sharing a solution Insects Limited offers when dealing with clothes moths.
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