Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-06-04
MOTHS KILLED BY
SUMMING CLOTHES
MOTH MILLERS CAUSE GREAT
DEAL OF DAMAGES; EXTERMI-
NATION METHODS EXPLAINED

from MONTANA STATE COLLEGE)
1.-THE little buff colored millers
that dart out of dark when
disturbed or fit out Of the closet
when the door Is opened r In the
house for the sole purpose Of leaving
a path Of destruction" says Miss
Nora Hulbush, extension home man.
agement specialist 1t Montana State
college. These millcrs are called
moth mi1lers and r found In Al
most every home. They are the mill
lers which bay the eggs that develop
into the worms or larvae which de-
stroy or ruin 50 many Of the cher
ished things shout the house. These
worms or larvae have for the chief
articles Of their diet, fur, wool and
feathers. Everything In the home
which contains these articles may be-
come infested with the destructive
worms and there Is no practical
treatment known that win render
fabrics made Of these articles ali
solutely immune from attack.
In spite Of the persistent way in
which this destruction continues and
the difficulty Of killing the moths,
there are a few precautions which
II taken will reduce the damage. One
OF. the most effective precautions Is
brushing. Too much emphasis cannot
be placed on frequent brushing. Other
precautions are summing and cleaning
of the articles subject to infestation,
The eggs Of the clothes moths are
delicate and usually can be crushed or
dislodged by brushing and beating
Special attention should be directed
to creviceS, seams and pockets.
The rays Of the sun in summer often
can be used to kill or drive moths from
fabrics. Clothes moth eggs on fan
mel, exposed to the bright sun at 100
degrees, were killed In II minutes In
practical tests. Well grown larvae OF
clothes moths in garments exposed for
several hours to the hottest rays OF
the sun usually become restless and
spin down from the garment. The
old-time custom of summing clothing to
kill moths is based upon excellent ex-
perience.
Furs require more rigorous treat
ment for radiance OF these older
worms. Brushing or beating is not ef-
fective. Clothes moth worms in furs
lie hidden next to the skin and are
so firmly established by the webbing
they spin that they are not dislodged
by brushing or shaking. For this rea-
son furs suspected Of being infested
should be comhed out with q very fine
comb or should be fumigated. II furs
are promptly stored as soon as the
season for their use is over, there is
little likelihood that they viii contain
moth larvae.
Clothing In closets can be freed Of
clothes moths by sealing up the crack,
about the door and fumigating with ar
ethylene dichloride- carbon tetrachlor.
ide mixture. This fumigant Is non.
inflamahle and non-exploSive and Il
not dangerous to human life in small
quantities.
II a house is thought to be generally
infested 1t Is wise to have it fumigatec
as q whole, preferably by q profession.
al fumigator. 1t Is q excellent way o.
protecting furniture and all suscepti.
BILE furnishings.
Before putting away wool blankets
wool winter coats, clothing, and house
hold furnishings that may become in
tested, wrap them carefully in firm
wrapping paper or several thicknesse.
Of newspaper. Care must be exercised
to use unbroken paper and to folk
it back at the ends of the bundles 81
that moths cannot crawl into thu
paper.
Paper bags for enclosing suits ant
coats II not torn and which are prop
erly closed, m good for preventin,
moths from reaching clothing. Eithe
plain paper bags Or those made o
paper impregnated with tar Or othe
substances may be used with the sam
degree Of safety.
It Is always q wise precaution to pu
faxed napthalene or dichloride amonl
the folds OF clothing made into bun
dies or stored in tight chests or trunks
Well-made chests Of cedar heart
wood, which are In good condition q
to tightness, can be depended upon Il
crokAct clothes AGAINST moths. urOvtdet