About Tinea pellionella Linnaeus, 1758
This species, Tinea pellionella Linnaeus, 1758, ranges in color from silvery grey to shiny light brown, with dark grayish hairs on the top of its head. Adult individuals of this species have a wingspan between 9 and 16 millimeters. Their forewings are grizzled brown, marked with one large spot and a few smaller, indistinct black spots, while their hindwings are plain pale brown-grey. Both forewings and hindwings are surrounded by a hairy fringe, with the fringe being especially prominent on the hindwings. Tinea pellionella is difficult to distinguish from the related species Tinea columbariella, Tinea dubiella and Tinea svenssoni, but examination of genitalia provides a definitive diagnostic identification. The larvae of Tinea pellionella feed mainly on fibrous keratin, including hairs and feathers. They can become a pest when they feed on carpets, furs, upholstery, and woolen fabrics. They also consume detritus, cobwebs, bird nests (particularly nests of the domestic pigeon), stored vegetable produce and wallpaper. Each larva remains inside a snug protective case that it constructs from debris such as fibers and hairs.
