
Community identification
Clothes moth larva (probable)
Tineola bisselliella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera; Tineidae
- Size
- Larvae are typically 6–10 mm long; adults have a wingspan of about 9–16 mm.
Natural Habitat
Dark, undisturbed indoor areas such as closets, carpets, upholstery, and wool or fur storage.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae consume keratin-containing materials, especially wool, fur, feathers, hair, and sometimes silk. Adults do not feed and mainly reproduce.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae avoid light and may spin silken tubes or leave webbing and granular droppings near feeding sites. They undergo complete metamorphosis; adults are small, pale golden moths that fly weakly.
Risks & Benefits
They can damage clothing, carpets, taxidermy, and other animal-fiber materials but do not bite or transmit disease. Identification is less certain from this blurred image; carpet beetle larvae are a possible alternative.