The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-29
ARTICLE.
Ladies Look Out for Moths.

ana vigorous warfare against these Gc>
tructive and subtle enemies Of every
thing that is valuable ia furs anc
clothing. They appear TO have beel
alike the terror Of the housewife an,
the merchant from the earliest times
and the frequent references made t.
them in Holy Writ prove them to hay,
been as greatly dreaded at that peTioC
in Eastern countries as they are now IL
the West.
The name clothes moth is applied.
according 70 Prof. Riley. to severa
different species Of the family TincidR.
minute moths, which in the laryal state
are extremely destructive. Those witt
which ladies are most pestered are the
carpet moth IT. tapelzella0 the fur
moth, Ct. p~eilioneila;) aud the hair
moth ct. erineila.)
These moths have slender bodies.
and deeply fringed wings that expand
8 10ths or S-l0ths of an inch, the colors
ranging from buff to drab and dark
gray. The eggs are laid in May and
June 0he moth dying Immediately
a~fterward,) and they hatch out in fiji
teen days The young worms proceed
at once to work, gnawing the sub
stances around them, and covering
themselves with hollow rolls. shaped
from the fragments. and lind with
silk from their own bodies.
These rolls are carried by some Of
the moths Oh their backs as they move
along, by others fas ened to the sub
stance they are feeding upon. They
are quite a masterpiece Of construction
in themselves, for the larva cnia"ges
them. from time to time, by addition
to the open ends. and by particles let
int the sides, which are split open for
the purpose.
They are always Of the same color as
the material from which they are made
and from them, we are assured on
good authority, the larvae make Jour
neys periodically, in order TO extend
their ravages further, returning 10 their
old habltations, in which, when they
become tired, they are secure them
selves with siiken threads Of their oWn
production, and remain quiet and
ALL THESE MOTHS Il NIGHT INSECTS.
and seek dark places in which to dc
post their eggs, which are SO tiny as
to be invisible. From this cause it
happens that WOODEN fabrics and furs.
are believed to be free from
when put away, are found in
when opened. The wOTm car
" On the work Of destruction through
and change into chrysiiids
Early III the spring. They transform
in twenty days, and issue out as
moths, to fly about in the
until they have paired and are
'eady TO lay eggs.
Then fellows" to use Prof. RiIcy's
words, ian invasion Of dark closets,
drawers, edges OF carpets, folds
If curtains, ana hanging garments, 4
he foundations OF a new colony are
witty laid"
Having explained the manner and
working Of tins insect scouragp. | will
proceed 10 gather from the latest
hoi tiles the newest and best preser-
and remedies: but. in the first
lace, i would recommend that all cup
cards closets, trunks, chests-in fact,
II receptacles for clothing and o lse
men, should be cmptied and clelned
ut in the spring. and all the contents
Nposed to light and air; before being
they should be shaken, brush
and beaten. IN putting away the
inter garments which cannot be
,ashed, great care should be taken to
eat the dust out of them, and remove
spots or grease, etc. A little drop
f chlorOform rubbed on will generally
emOve paint, tar. or grease, at once;
ld always remember to use q wooden
9th to rub the spots in WOODEN gar
rents; jacket and coat collars and
linens must not he forgotten in
ie cleaning process, Ammonia will
? found the best thing, used in the
Of a teaspoonful to a tea
lpful of boiling water; let the water F;
,ol and apply the mixture with a soft
oolen clOttl, rubbing cloth always the +,
ay OF the nap, untlI Il good lather be !
rmcd; then rinse ii oil with clean. !
kewarm water, and rub with q dry +,
oolen cloth. Tha cleaned portions !
ould be pulled into shape, and then
led IN the air, or Us the lire. In s
Ittin9 away clothes and outdoor gar :
ents, told them carefully. and strew q
mphor among them; chen spread out t
clean sheet, and place the pile of .
,thes in the centre, folding the sheet +
er securely. and sewing them firmly d
in the folds Of the sheet, strewing I
: camphor over and about the bundle O
K
FURS 4
,uld never be worn too late IN the
son. for in addition to the fading in
, sunlight of the spring, the moth f