The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-06
Clothes Moths.

| tIFS1s snAl4.
Clothes Moths.
Reader, do YOU know the little crea-
| tures when YOU see them? Perhaps
you do, for they are common enough
| in the spring, about the time that wool
/ ems and fuTs are being put away for the
warm weather, but we have met a great
many good people who firmly believe
that the white and spotted millers, OF
candle, flies, that flock to our lighted
rooms In such numbers in summer even.
ings, are the cause of all the mischief
done to fuFs and garments. We have
often heard the exclamation, "There's
a moth-miller, kill it - and great fuss
is made over some hapless night,h flyer
on tour of observation, when perhaps
| the real clothes moth, or perfect insect,
was unconcernedly floating through the
air. almost before the speakers eyes.
| And after all, the mistake is not such a
| great one, for science gives the name
moth to a whole group of insects for
the most part nocturnal in their habits,
in contradistinction to butterfly, name
given the opposite group, which are
generally day flyers, but it shows how
important it is to always give an object
its whole name when speaking of it,
not saying "grass," when we mean
"blue grass" or "moth," when we
mean "clothes moth,' so We viii take
it for granted that the large clumsy
millers are innocent. re.
The real author of mischief, however,
is minute insect with four wings, ex-
panding about half an inch, of a light
buff color, with the lustre of satin and
with thick orange tuft on the head.
The winge are long and narrow, aud are
most beautifully and delicately bor-
dered with a silken fringe, which at
their base is quite long. They appear,
III the northern states, about May, but
in the south, probably, about April,
perhaps earlier still in the Gulf states,
and continue through the season.
The eggs are deposited in the folds
of curtains, under the edges of carpets,
in garments hanging in closets or placed
in chests or drawers, and In fact, any
where where their Larvae may find food.
In about fifteen days the eggs hatch
and the little whitish caterpillars i'm
mediately go to work feeding, and con-
strUcting their cases but Packard tells
the story in such a concise manner and
so pleasantly, we will use his words
I" Hardly has the helpless, tiny worm
OLOhCA Gl4C CSk BLCS1OuS4y 4dI0 III HOLuS
old garment OF wool or fur, or perhaps
in the hair-eloth of sofa, when ib pro-
ceeds to make a shelter by cutting the
woolly fbres of soft hairs up into bits,
which is placed at each end in success
i've layers, and, joining them together
by silken threads, constructs a cylindri-
cal tube of thick, warm felt, lined with
the finest silk the tiny worm can spin.
The case is hardly round, but fattened
slightly in the middle, and contracted
little Just before each end, both of
which are always kept open. Days go
by. The case of our hero has grown
uncomfortably small shall he leave it
and make another? No housewife is
more prudent and saving. Out come
those scissor-jaws, and, 10 a fearful
rent along each side of one end of the
case. Two wedge shaped patches mend
the breach-caterpilla retires for
moment reappears at the other end
scissors once more pulled out two
rents to be filed up by two more patches
or cores, and our caterpillar once more
breathes freer, laughs and grows fat
upon horse hair and lambs wool. -
When the insect becomes full grown
it measures about one-fifth of an inch ia
length, is whitish, with a darker col
ored head. In shape it is rather plump,
tapering towards the tail. 1t now
transforms to the pupa state, whitish at
first, and afterwards more of chestnut
brown.
When ready to change again the back
splits open and the moth emerges.
There are a number of broods during
the season, and in the autumn the in
sects crawl into their cases and sleep
till spring, when they change TO pupe,
and, finally, to perfect moths, and then
lay their eggs for new generations.
Where care is taken to prevent their
ravages, it is not hard matter to keep
free from them, but careless housewives
are sure to be oveFrun with them. Har-
ris recommends exposing all garments
that have been packed away in closets,
wardrobes, or chests, to the air and the
heat of the sun, in May or June, when
the moths first appear, and thoroughly
shaking, brushing, or beating them be-
fore they are finally put away again,
but they should always be packed with
sheets of paper sprinkled with leaves of
tobacco. shavings. of Russia leather, or,
better than all, with Jumps of eamphor.
Powdered black pepper strewed under
the edge of carpets is said to repeI the
moths In such situations.
Furs should be well beaten, and
placed in linen bags with eamphor, and
there viii be little danger of injury.
Carriage Innings, according to Packard,
can be secured forever from the attacks
of moths by being washed, or sponged
on both sides with a solution of the cor
TosIve sublimate Of mercury in alcohol,
made Just strong enough not to leave a
white stain on a black feather. Car
boIic acid, doubtless, might be used
with good effect in rePelling these
insects.
The Origin of the Piano.
The piano began to make its appear
ance about the beginning of the
ainhtaanth century, Its Inventinn