clothes moth

noun

1. any of several small moths of the family Tineidae, the larvae of which feed on wool, fur, etc., especially Tinea pellionella casemaking clothes moth.

clothes moth

noun

1. any of various tineid moths, esp Tineola bisselliella, the larvae of which feed on wool or fur

Word History and Origins

Origin of clothes moth¹

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Be sure to launder or dry-clean clothing that you’ve worn, because clothes moths are drawn to fibers with body oils or food spills.

From Washington Post

Ms. Love, 29, a model in Los Angeles, has waged war against the webbing clothes moths that she recently discovered during a quarantine closet clean, finding the pests running rampant in her knitwear.

From New York Times

The interloper was the webbing clothes moth, which feeds on silk, wool and other organic material.

From Los Angeles Times

The conservation charity, which owns the hall, said that despite careful housekeeping, the common clothes moth had been hard to control.

From BBC

Is there any way we can reframe our relationships with clothes moths?

From The Guardian