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Fabric Pests

BLACK CARPET BEETLE (Attagenus megatoma)

Biology

• Length: 1/8 to 1/4 inch
• Adults are dark brown to black in color, oval in shape and twice as long as wide.
• Antennae are short with a 3 segmented club.
• Terminal segment of the male's antennae is twice as long as the female's.
• Larva has an elongated body; last abdominal segment has long tuft of hairs.
• Larva is light brown to dark brown in color and may be 1/2 inch long.

Distribution/Habits

• Black carpet beetle is most widespread and destructive carpet beetle in the United States.
• They are numerous during the spring and early summer months.
• Larval stage is destructive to fabrics and plant materials.
• Damage often results in a number of small, unevenly spaced holes.
• Larvae roam widely, normally searching for food in dark areas of a room, shunning sunlight.
• Larvae move slowly; when disturbed they curl up and "play dead."
• Newly emerged adults are attracted to light.
• Adult Black Carpet Beetles feed on pollen.
• After mating, many of the females return indoors to lay eggs.
• Approximately 50 eggs are laid in accumulations of lint, or in a place where larval food supply is present.

CASEMAKING CLOTHES MOTH (Tinea pellionella)

Biology

• Width: 3/8 to 1/2 inch from wing tip to wing tip
• Wings are long and narrow.
• Hind wings are trimmed with long hairs.
• Color is buff with a brown touch and 3 dark dots on each front wing.
• Eyes are wider than the space between them.
• Larvae are a pale yellow color.
• Eggs are creamy white when first laid then turn red.

Distribution/Habits

• Larva spins a silk case interweaving some of the fibers it feeds on.
• When the larva moves, it drags the silk case along.
• If larvae becomes separated from the silk case, it will die.
• Larvae pupate in protected areas.
• Males are active flyers, but the females do not fly at all.
• Adults live only 4-6 days.

Biology

• Wings are buff or putty in color and unspotted.
• The adult body is covered with shiny golden scales.
• Reddish hair can be found on the top of the head.
• Antennae are darker than the body.
• Length of folded wings is 1/4 to 1/3 inches.
• Hind wing margins are trimmed with long hairs.

Distribution/Habits

• Distributed world-wide, most common of the fabric moths in the United States
• Eggs are oval in shape, about 1/24 of an inch in length, and ivory in color.
• Eggs are often laid in small groups.
• Eggs are laid among threads of clothing and fastened there by a gummy secretion.
• Damage to clothing is done by the larvae.
• Larva is translucent and has 3 pairs of jointed legs and 4 pairs of prolegs.
• Larva has short antennae, but no eyes.
• Larvae spin a feeding tunnel of silk.
• Larvae hatch and sometimes enter a dormant resting stage for no apparent reason that may last up to 24 months.
• Adults live 15-30 days.

Biology

• Length: 1/8 to 1/4 inch
• Oval in shape and dark in color
• Wing covers have varying patterns of brownish and yellowish scales.
• Larvae are up to 1/4 inch long.
• Larvae are a yellowish-tan color with a tail of long hairs extending from the tip of the abdomen.
• Species include the larger cabinet beetle, Khapra beetle and Warehouse beetle.

Distribution/Habits

• Pest of fabrics and stored products
• Larvae are present for most of the year.
• Accumulate anywhere where dead insects accumulate: light fixtures, window sills, wall voids or insect light traps.

VARIED CARPET BEETLE (Anthrenus verbasci)

Biology

• Length: 1/16 inch
• Thorax is black with yellow scales along its base and white scales along its sides.
• The elytra are black and have two transverse zigzag bands of white scales bordered by yellow scales.
• The underside of the body is covered with grayish yellow scales. This pattern of scales may vary considerably.
• Scales are narrow and at least twice as long as wide.
• Larva are wider than they are long with hair located on the back.

Distribution/Habits

• Found throughout the United States
• Egg surface is rough and has short projections at one end.
• Larvae are scavengers, destructive to fabrics, woolen goods, furs, cereals, silks and plant food and also feed on dead animals.
• Damage is noticeable by a number of small, unevenly spaced holes and larval cast skins may be seen on fabrics.
• Larvae prefer to feed on dead insects and spiders.
• When adults emerge from the pupal case, they instantly migrate toward sunlight.
• Adults feed on pollen.

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