A to Z of Pests

Common Clothes Moth

Tineola bisselliella

Appearance

• Adult — 6 – 8 mm long. Forewings shiny golden–buff with no markings. Trailing edge of the wings is strongly fringed.
• Larva — up to 10 mm long. Creamy white with a golden brown head. Lives in a silken tube often 10 to 15 times the length of the body.
• Pupa About 6 mm long.

Lifecycle

• Egg to adult is usually about 6 weeks. May reach 10 to 18 months if the food is poor or temperatures are cold.

Habits