Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-10-02
Moths In Furniture.

THERE are two species of moths which
infest furniture. One is a large fly, of
sllvery white color; the worm Of the same
is shaped like a chesnut worm, and is fam
iliarly known. 1t rarely infests furni-
ture. The other is a small fly of dark
drab color; the worm is about one fourth
of an inch long, and tapering from the
head to the tail. 1t was first observed by
upholsterers about thirteen years ago.
This fly penetrates a sofa or chair, gener-
ally between the back or under the seats,
where the vacancy among the spring
affords safe retreat 1t may make
lOdgment in one week after the iurni-
ture is placed in house. If such should
be the case, in two months the worm will
appear; and continual process of pro-
creation in few months increases the
number to thousands.
This moth has no season. 1t DESTROYS
in winter and summer alike, as it is kept
in active life by 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 all the time.
1t does not eat good pure, curled hair, but
fastens its cocoon to it, the elasticity of
which prevents its being disturbed. The
inside of furniture is used by it only for
purposes or propagation.
The worm when ready for food crawls
out and destroys the covering, if of
wooden or plush material, and falling to
the carpet destroys it They rarely cut
through plush from the inside, as it is of
cotton back, but there are instances
where they have cut up muslin on the
outside backs of sofas. There is no pro-
lection against ii but continual care.
New furniture should be removed from
the walls at least twice week at this
season Of the year, and should be whsked
all round, and particularly under the
seats, TO prevent the fly from lodging.
This is an effectual preventive, and the
only one known. Cayenne pepper,
Scotch snuff, turpentine, 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 piece of
furniture.
If the furniture is infested, they may be
removed by taking off the muslin from
under the seats, and of the outside ends
and backs, where they congregate most,
and exposing to the air as much as posi-
BILE Beat well with whisk or the open
hand, and kill all the flies and worms
which show themselves, This done
often will disturb them, and may make
them leave the furniture, as its desire is
to be left quiet When the furniture is
free from moths, and is to be left during
the summer months without attention, it
may be protected by camphor in small
bags, or highly concentrated patchouly.
The safest way is to have the furniture
well whisked twice week.
If the moth attacks the carpet, which
they will first do under the sofas and
chairs, spread wet sheet on the carpet
and pass hot fiat iron over it quickly
the steam will effectually destroy both
worm and egg. If furniture is delivered
in dwelling free from moths, the uphol-
sterer's responsibility ends there, and all
rests with the housekeeper, as no trades
man can tell whether the moth will attack
| it or not. There are cases where the fur
niture has been in ten or twelve years
| before being attacked. 1t would be as
fair to hold the tailor responsible for the
! safety of clothing as to hold the uphol-
sterer responsible for the safety of furni-
| ture-Cabinet Hdker.