Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-01
Common Clothes Moths.

THESE little moths expand about a
half inch, and are less than one-fOurth of
an inch long. They are of light buff
coor, and shine like satin. The wings
are long, narrow, pointed and beautifully
fringed. The larva G. worm') is white,
with yellow head, has, like nearly all
caterpillars, sixteen legs, and is always
surrounded by a tiattened, cylindrical
case, usually gray or whitish in color,
though this depends on their food. The
ends are open, that the larvae may reach
forth to feed or peer forth, which they are
free to do when disturbed.
The pupa or chrysalis is somewhat
curved, and has rounded head The an
tenn9, wings and legs are folded beneath
the body and reach nearly to the end of 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 as they rest with wings 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 fit across our rooms.
The female seeks out our filrs and wool
en- or silk apparel, her minute size enab-
ling 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, comfortably fixed
up in their little tents and working their
miserable mischief, all unsupported by
the unwary housewife, who learns too late
of their previous presence by discovering
that her most choice possessions are total
ly ruined. In spring and summer the
chrysalids will appear, soon to be followed
by 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
III close paper bags and pasted up 50 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 pos
sible. The vapor will kill the insects.
Then prepare as given above.
For furniture and carpets, heavy paper,
wet with carbolic acid or spirits Of tur-
pentine, will kill larvae already at work.
This should be placed under the edge of
the carpet where the mischief is generally
done and in furniture crowded back in
the deep folds. 1t would be well to
saturate the interior Of the furniture with
a strong solution Of carbolic acid Our
best furniture and furs have a goodly
quantity Of this substance in the undis-
solved state fastened inside them when
made. Russian 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-
facturers of carriages wash the wooden
Innings of their carriages with a weak
solution of corrosive sublimate, which is
very sure destruction to all insects Yet
DR.. Kedzie tells me it is unsafe to use it.
Every careful housekeeper will carefully
examine her carpets and furniture each
fall and spring, brush out all the creases,
give all a good airing, and if there is any
trace of these evil-doers will practice the
above remedies.-Prof. A. j. Cook, N;ch-
igdra Agricultural College.