Tineola bisselliella
species of insect
Tineola bisselliella, known as the common clothes moth, webbing clothes moth, or simply clothing moth, is a species of fungus moth (family Tineidae, subfamily Tineinae). It is the type species of its genus Tineola and was first described by the Swedish entomologist Arvid David Hummel in 1823. It and several closely related species are together known as the clothes moths due to their role as pests in human households. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella – for example, by G. A. W. Herrich-Schäffer, when he established Tineola in 1853.
The larvae (caterpillars) of this moth are considered a serious pest, as they can derive nourishment from clothing – in particular wool, but many other natural fibres – and also, like most related species, from stored foods, such as grains.
Description
Tineola bisselliella is a small moth of 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) body length and 9–16 mm (0.35–0.63 in) wingspan (most commonly 12–14 mm or 0.47–0.55 in). The head is light ferruginous ochreous, sometimes brownish-tinged.The antennae are thread-like and about four-fifths the length of the forewings. Forewings pale yellowish-ochreous; base of costa fuscous. Hindwings ochreous grey-whitish. (it is distinguished from similar species by its yellow-brown or ochreous colouring and red-orange tuft of hair on the head).
The public source identifies “Tineola bisselliella” as species of insect. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Tineola, bisselliella and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Tineola bisselliella”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 15, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1945889. The Library of Congress control number is sh87020265. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1823 and 1853.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Tineola bisselliella”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Tineola bisselliella primary sources, Tineola bisselliella archive and Tineola research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Tineola bisselliella”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Tineola bisselliella” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.