The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-07-29
Clothes Moths.

Professor Cook, OF the Michigan Agri-
cultural College, writes as follows: These
little moths expand about a half inch and
are less than one-iourih of an iHch long.
They are OF light buff color. and shine
like satin. The wings are long. narrow.
pointed, and. beautifully fringed. The
larva Is worm) is white, with yellow
head; has, like nearly all caterpillarS, six
teen legs, and i always surrounded by a
hattentd. cylindrical case, usually gray
or whitiSh in color, though this depends
on their food. The ends are open, tn At
the larvae may reach forth TO feed, or peer
forth, which they are free to do when
disturbed. The pupi, or chrysalis, is
somewhat curved. and has rounded
head. The antenn9, wings and legs are
folded beneath the body. The pupa case
or cocoon is similar TO the larva case.
The moth comes forth as early as the
last of May, and may be seen from that
time till the close of summer. Their tiny,
lustrOus, buff cOlOred bodies are easily de-
tected "a they rest with wing folded close
about their bodies in the deep crevices Of
our parlOr furniture, or among the folds
OF our garments. or even more plainly as
they fiji across our rooms. These moths
pair. after which the female seeks out our
furs and wooden or silk apparel. her mi
mute size enabling her to enter drawers.
closets, and trunks; and she distributes
her eggs with an eye to the good of her
prospective young. if not TO our good.
The Larvae soon appear. and may be found
at home the summer through, comfoTta-
bly, fixed up in their little tents, and work
ing their miserable mischief, all unsuS-
p cted by the unwary housewife, VINO
LOT 90 hi,
by discovering that her most choice pos
SESSIONS are totally ruined. In spring and
summer the chrysalids will appear. soon
10 be followed by a new return of the
pretty moths.
Wooden garments and furs should be
put away in trunks, with several pieces of
camphOr gum as large as hickory nuts
packed in with them, or they may be put
in close paper bags and pasted up so that
no holes, ever so small, will remain open.
Even in this case little camphor gum
will render assurance doubly sure. In
tested garments or furs should be put in a
tight sack or trunk; and. after adding a
half ounce of chlorofOrm, the sack or
trunk should be closed aS nearly alright
as possible The vapOr will kill the ill.,
Sects. Then prepare as given above. For
furniture and carpets, heavy paper, wet
with carbolic acid or spirits OF turpentine.
will kill Larvae already at work. r is
should be placed under the edge OF the
carpet, where the mischief is generally
done, and in furniture crowded back in
the deep folds. Ii would be well to sat
urate the interior of the furniture with a
strong solution of carbolic acid. Orr
best furniture and furs have a goodly
quantity of this substance in the undis-
solved state fastened inside them when
made. Russia leather, cedar bark, or
boughs, tobacco leaves, and even red pep
per, are said to prevent the moths from
laying eggs. 1t will be well, then, to
place these in exposed situations. Manu-
lecturers of carriages wash the wooden
Innings of their carriages with weak So
luton of corrosive sublmate. which is a
very sure destruction TO ali insects. Yet
DR.. KedZie tells us it is unsafe TO use it.
Every careful housekeeper will careful
ly examine her carpets and furniture each
fall and spring, brush out all the creases.
give all good airing, and if there is any
trace of these evil-doers will practice the
above remedies.