Which insects eat clothes? — Andrea’s student essay
Which Insects Eat Clothes?
When it comes to bugs, they are a very important part of our eco-system. From helping flowers pollinate, to acting as a natural pesticide, and even being a food source. Without the existence of bugs many species of animals, plants, reptiles, and even humans would not be able to survive or exist without them. However, there are some bugs that can cause a mass amount of damage to people’s property.
Bugs that cause a massive amount of damage to people’s property are bugs that eat people’s clothes. They prey upon wardrobes, closets, and dressers wreaking havoc in them. These bugs can cause massive amounts of damage to people’s wardrobes. Overall, the two most common types of bugs known to eat people’s clothing are the black carpet beetle and the common clothes moth
One of the most common bugs known to eat people’s clothes is the black carpet beetle. Also better known by its scientific name Attagenus unicolor. This insect has been found all over North America living in places like the United States, Canada, and even Mexico. Though it has been found that this insect is not native to the Americas but was brought over from Europe during the 19th century.
As for what family the black carpet beetle belongs to is the Dermestid family. As for the meaning of Dermestid deprives of the Greek word for skin. This means this type of bug food source comes from eating dead animals. When it comes to size the black carpet, the beetle is between 3-5 millimeters long and has a reddish-brown appearance. However, there is one question that comes into mind for many people which is are these bugs harmful to people?
The answer would be yes that this bug can cause some minor harm to people. Contact with the black carpet beetle can cause skin irritation. How this irritation occurs is due to exposure of the beetle hair and bristles to human skin. Irritation of the skin can cause welts which can lead to an infection if the skin is constantly irritated or if the skin is broken due to repetitive scratching.
It has also to be found that the black carpet beetle can also be harmful to family pets. Due to pets, constant scratching of fur can lead to the creation of open sores which can lead to infection. In not only be harmful to both humans and pets the black carpet beetle has been found to cause massive amounts of damage to people’s belongings. In their larvae stage, black carpet beetle is known to eat animal-based materials such as wool, leather, silk, hair, and much more. While in their adult stage they eat wool carpets. The black carpet beetle is a destructive house pest that can cause a massive amount of damage to people’s wardrobes. Overall, one common type of insect found to eat people’s clothing is the black carpet beetle.
When it comes another type of bug known to eat people’s clothes would be the common clothes moth. Also better known by its scientific name Tineola Bisselliella. This moth can be found in the Southern part of the United States and upper regions of South America. What this means is that this bug is a new world species of bug meaning that it is solely found in only in the Americas.
As for who named this insect would be the entomologist Arvid David Hummel of Sweden. The family the common clothes moth belongs to is the Taeniidae family. As for the Greek meaning of Taeniidae means headband. As for when it comes to size the common clothes moth is ½ to ¼ inches long with a color from a beige to a mahogany brown. As for is, the common clothes moth harmful towards humans and pets? It is safe to say that the common clothes moth is not harmful to humans and pets.
However, they are considered a destructive house pest. In their larvae stage, they eat their nesting material or carcasses of bugs and animals. While in their adult stage they eat both animal-based materials and synthetic materials. Materials such as nylon, wool, polyester, leather, and more. In all the common clothes moth is another common insect known to eat people’s clothes.
Bugs are the most helpful creature on earth with the various duties they perform that help, other living creatures. However, bugs can also cause a mass amount of damages. One damage that they cause is by eating people’s clothes. Such as the black carpet beetle which is a bug that is known to eat animal-based materials such as leather, wool, silk, and feathers. This bug also can cause damage to people and pets due to the irritation they cause on the skin.
Another bug that can cause damage to people’s clothing is the common clothes moth which eats both synthetic and animal-based materials. Though this bug is not harmful to humans and pets it still can cause a large amount of damage to people’s property. Overall, the two most common types of bugs known to eat people’s clothing are the black carpet beetle and the common clothes moth.