Tinea pallescentella Stainton, 1851
Large Pale Clothes Moth
 (one synonym is Tinea horosema Meyrick, 1931)
TINEINAE,   TINEIDAE,   TINEOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Tinea pallescentella
(Photo: courtesy of Katarina Christenson, Melba, Australian Capital Territory)

The caterpillars of this species are a world-wide pest, feeding on keratinous animal products, such as

  • Hair,
  • Wool,
  • Fur, and
  • Feathers.

    The adult moth has speckled fawn forewings which with a variable vague central dark streak, and several dark spots. The hindwings are silvery-white, with fawn wing-tips. The moth has a wingspan of about 1 cm.

    Tinea pallescentella
    (Photo: courtesy of Katarina Christenson, Melba, Australian Capital Territory)

    The species has been found variously around the world, including

  • Finland,
  • Russia,
  • New Zealand,
  • U.K.,
  • U.S.A.,

    as well as in Australia in

  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria, and
  • Tasmania.

    Tinea pallescentella
    (Photo: courtesy of Eric LaGasa and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

    Further reading :

    Henry Tibbats Stainton,
    A supplementary catalogue,
    British Tineidae & Pterophoridae,
    London (1851), p. 2, No. 43.

    previous
    back
    caterpillar
    Australian
    Australian Butterflies
    butterflies
    Australian
    home
    Lepidoptera
    Australian
    Australian Moths
    moths
    next
    next
    caterpillar

    (written 12 May 2022)