Bug FAQWebbing Clothes Moth
Tineola bisselliella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tineidae
Also called: Common Clothes Moth, clothing moth
Source: Wikipedia
The larvae feed on natural fibres such as wool and can also eat stored grains, making them a serious household pest. The moth completes its life cycle in 4 to 6 months with two generations each year, and indoor heating lets it reproduce year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They are known as clothes moths because their larvae damage clothing and stored foods.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Both adults and larvae prefer low-light environments.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat wool and other natural fibres, as well as stored grains.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
From egg to egg takes about four to six months, producing two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In the wild they are seasonal, but heated buildings allow them to develop all year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 31 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New York, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Idaho, Kansas, Georgia, District of Columbia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How does this moth damage my home?
The larvae chew natural fibres like wool and can also eat stored grains, ruining clothes and pantry items.
Source: Wikipedia
When are they most active?
They are seasonal outdoors, but indoor heating lets them reproduce throughout the year.
Source: Wikipedia
How long does it take for them to develop?
Their life cycle from egg to egg usually lasts four to six months, with two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tineidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tineola_bisselliella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.