Question from the reader – Beatriz Santos
With the high supply of food (from papers to scraps of skin and hair) and humid and dark environments in our homes. These are the ideal conditions for the appearance of moths, which enter through windows, doors and, in many cases, through objects carried into the home. Two groups of insects are popularly known as “moths”: the first belongs to the Thysanura order, which includes the famous book moth (Lepisma saccharina), and the second to the Lepidoptera order, especially the tineidae family – that little bug that hangs on the wall inside a cone!
Thysanura do not undergo complete metamorphosis (their nymphs are incomplete versions of the adult), while Lepidoptera (which are actually moths) have a different larval form than the adult. Despite wreaking havoc on clothes and books, moths are not a risk to human health.
suspicious elements
Attention! Do you know these individuals? They could be hiding in your house right now.
draw up a plan
To avoid moths, it is important to keep closets and wardrobes clean and airy, in addition to preventing the formation of moisture spots. Keep an eye out for papers and cardboard boxes brought into the house – moths could be hitchhiking. Oils with volatile substances and strong odors, such as cloves, cinnamon, lavender and rosemary, can affect moths’ orientation senses, preventing them from approaching
Order – Lepidoptera
Characteristics – With thick antennae and scales covering bodies, wings and legs, the size varies according to the species. The wool moth (Tineola bisselliella), for example, is about 0.65 cm long
What they eat – Tissues (especially if there is sweat), skin and hair scraps or stored grains (corn, wheat, rice), according to the species
Where they hide – Corners of walls, pantries containing food and abandoned warehouses
How long they live – About six months. In the adult stage, moths, they live a few days.
Order – Thysanura
Characteristics – With a length between 0.85 and 1.3 cm, they have an elongated, multisegmented body covered with scales. They have no wings, but two long antennae and three caudal filaments.
What they eat – They are omnivores, consuming household items such as flour, paper (books and magazines) and fabrics (clothes). Some species can decrease metabolism and go months without eating
Where they hide – Preferably in dark and damp places, such as furniture cracks, closets, baseboards and boxes
How long they live – Four to seven years
Consultancy: Ana Paula Ott, professor at the Faculty of Agronomy at UFRGS, Francisco José Zorzenon, technical director of the Laboratory Unit of Reference in Urban Pests at the Biological Institute of São Paulo, Mirian David Marques, professor at the Museum of Zoology at USP, and Nicolás Oliveira Mega, professor at the Institute of Biosciences at UFRGS
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