The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-23
Moths i'm Furniture.

There are two species of moths which in
fest furniture. One is q large fly of silvery
white color; the worm of the same is shaped
like chestnut worm, and is Familiarity known.
1t rarely infests furniture. The other is
small fly OF a dark drab color; the worm is
about one-fourth of an inch long, and taper
ing from the head to the tail. 1t was observ-
ed by upholsterers about thirteen years ago.
This fly psnetrates a sofa or chair, generally
bstween the back and seats of sofas, or under
the seats, where the vacancy among the
springs affords a safe retreat. 1t may make
lodgment one week after the furniture is
placed in the house. If such should be the
case, in two months the wCtm will appear;
and the continual process Of procreaton in
few months increases the number to thou
| sands. This moth has 10 season. 1t destroys
| in winter AMI summer alike, as it is kept In
| active life by the the constant heat OF the
| house. We find at the same time in the
| same piece of furniture, the fly, the worm,
and the eggs-thus showing that they are
breeding and destroying al the time II does
! not eat good pure curled hair, but iasteos
| its cocoon to it, the elasticity of which pre-
vents it from being disturbed. The inside of
| furniture is used by it only for purposes of
propagation.
The worm when reudy for food, crawls out
and destroys the covering, if of woolen or
plush material, and falling to the caipet de-
from the inside, IS it is of cotton back, but
there are instances where they have cut up
| muslin on the outside backs OF sofas. There
| is no protection against it but continual care.
! New furniture should be removed from the
| walls at least twice weeS at this season of
| the year, and should be well whisked all
| round, and particularly under the seats, to
| prevent the fly from lodging. This is an eff
| iectual preventive, and the only one known.
Cayenne pepper, Scotch snuff, camphor, tur-
pentine, and all other remedies for protection
from the large moth are of little or no avail
against the furniture moth. Saturation with
alcohol will not destroy them when IN a niece
of furniture. If the furniture is infested.
they may be removed by taking off the mus.
lin from under the seats and off the outside
ends and backs, where they congregate most,
ana expose IL 10 the ar as much as possible.
Beat well with whisk or the omen hand.
and kill all the flies and worms which show
themselves. This done often will disturb
them, and may make them leave the furni-
lure, as Its desire is to be left quiet. When
sne furniture is free from moths and is to be
lelI uurinS the summer months without at-
tentlon, 1t may be protected by camphor IN
small bags or highly concentrated patchoun'
Ihe safest way is.to have the furniture wnisA-
ed twice week.
| If the moth attacks the carpet, whicn tne5
| will first do under the sofas ana chalrS, sPs sat-
a wei sheet on the carpet and pass I hot mar
iron over it quiclly-the steam VIII t1rnitare sngJ
ly destroy both worm and eggs Il motbs nulnl' the
Is delvered i'm a dwelling free fron nlo'iS, 'nE n
nphoIstere responsibility ends 'here trsdss@an ana a.,
rests with the housekeeper' i ~ no o,taa !, ~
can can There are cases where the furniture has
heen nee, in use ten or twelve years before being
attacked. 1t would be as fair to hold the tailor
resnonsible for the safety OF clothing az 10
hold the upholsterer responsible for the sie'
of furniture.