This Caterpillar was unfortunately introduced into Australia by accident. It is a cosmopolitan pest, particularly known for damaging textiles, both overseas, and in Australia. It is the most common of the four common species of clothes moths. Its common name is derived from the habit of the Caterpillars of making silk-lined tubes in the material on which they are feeding, to which frass and other debris are attached.

Naked Caterpillar
(Photo: courtesy of Entomology Department, Clemson University)

The Caterpillar is buff coloured, with a dark brown head. It commonly feeds in dark, protected areas.

(Photo: courtesy of Entomology Department, Clemson University)

If the environment of the Caterpillar becomes too dry or cold, it can enter a dormant period until its conditions improve. Normally it grows to a length of about 1 cm.

Adult moth
(Photo: courtesy of Walter Ebeling, Uni. of California, Riverside)

The adult moth is a golden brown, with a wingspan of about 1.5 cms. It looks slim because it folds it wings back along its body. Adult moths of the webbing clothes moth are good fliers, but tend to fly in darkened areas. The males normally are the fliers, whereas females generally walk or run.

Female moths lay about 50 eggs in darkened areas or at night. After the eggs are laid the female dies. The newly born larvae can enter any opening greater than 0.01 millimeter, which enables them to enter many storage containers which we might think were secure. The total lifespan (egg, Caterpillar, pupa, and adult) varies from 5 to 9 months, although it may exceed 2 years if the larva is triggered to go into a dormant period.

In Australia, so far the species has only been reported Queensland and Tasmania.

The pheromones of the species have been determined. Various methods may be employed to control this pest, including

Nitrogen.

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 184.

Gaden S. Robinson & Ebbe S. Nielsen,
Tineid Genera of Australia, Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1993.

Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 53.

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(updated 25 October 2010)