''Hofmannophila'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of moths in the

concealer moth Oecophoridae (concealer moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this. ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Oecophoridae. It is

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

, with the single species ''Hofmannophila pseudospretella'', the brown house moth, which appears to be closely related to species of the genus '' Borkhausenia''.

Description

Egg

The egg is elliptical with parallel longitudinal grooves joined by fine transverse lines. The colour ranges from shining white to yellow.

Larvae

Larvae have a brown head with a translucent dull white body and pale yellowish-brown legs. Because of the translucency of the body, it may change colour depending on gut content, in turn dependent on the colour of the fabrics ingested.

Pupa

The pupa is yellowish brown and composed of strongly hooked setae on terminal abdominal body segments.

Adults

Mature individuals have pale ochre forewings interspersed with blackish brown patches. Each wing has a prominent discal spot and smaller blackish brown cellular spots. The hindwing is brownish grey, while the head, thorax, and abdomen dark grey-brown. Antennae are simple and threadlike. Wing span is 15 – 26 mm.

Distribution and habitat

This species was introduced from Asia to Europe and other continents in the 1840s. It is now found almost worldwide and is especially common in Britain. This is a

synanthropic A synanthrope (from the Greek σύν ''syn'', "together with" + ἄνθρωπος ''anthropos'', "man") is a member of a species of wild animal or plant that lives near, and benefits from, an association with human beings and the somewhat artific ...

species that lives in private houses and commercial buildings. Smaller numbers of individuals also occur outside human settings, with larvae being found in birds’ nests, feeding on droppings and

detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...

.Carter DJ. 1984. ''Pest Lepidoptera of Europe''. Dr W Junk Publishers

Reproduction and life history

Usually up to 260

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are laid by a female during one life cycle, either singly or in batches. Large females have been reported to lay 400 – 500 ova. Under favourable conditions, eggs hatch 10 – 20 days after being laid.Woodroff GE. 1951. A life-history study of the brown house moth, Hofmannophila pseudopretella (Staint.) (Lep., Oecophoridae). ''Bulletin of Entomological Research'' 41: 529 – 553. Larvae are active June – April, during which they spin silken tubes with the food they eat, leaving behind deposits of

frass Frass refers loosely to the more or less solid excreta of insects, and to certain other related matter. Definition and etymology ''Frass'' is an informal term and accordingly it is variously used and variously defined. It is derived from the ...

and silk. They require relatively high humidity for successful development to maturity, and the duration of their pupal stage is shortened by a higher ambient temperature. Although they can enter diapause under unfavourable conditions, they are killed by severe frost. Before pupation, larvae leave their natal feeding site and may travel for 2 – 3 days before finding a new suitable place to pupate. Adults are active May – September, although they can be found all year round in heated buildings. They are especially attracted to light and can fly all year round. The mite species ''

Cheyletus eruditus Grain itch is a cutaneous condition caused by several types of mites, and characterized by intense pruritus. See also * Grocer's itch * List of cutaneous conditions * List of mites associated with cutaneous reactions Many mites can bite human ...

'' appears to be a significant predator of this moth.

Pest status

The brown house moth is considered a serious pest in domestic and commercial settings because of the larvae's destructive feeding habits. Larvae feed on various manmade foodstuffs and household materials. These include stored cereals, dried fruit, seeds, clothes and furniture fabric, fur, and wood floor inlays. Other commodities reportedly eaten include book bindings, wine bottle corks and leather. Their destructive power is probably largely attributable to their unusual ability to degrade keratin, which is mediated by lactic acid bacteria present in their midgut. Larvae also bite through synthetic carpet fibres to construct their pupation cells, and since they rarely ingest the fibres, they are little affected by conventional moth-proofing agents. Moreover, this species is reported to be a more serious pest in Britain than elsewhere in the world.Ebeling W. 1975. Urban Entomology, University of California division of Agricultural Sciences, Los Angeles.

Footnotes

References

* (1942): Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars" ''Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins'' 27: 105-109

n German N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...

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* (2003): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms &ndash

Version of 2003-DEC-29. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.

External links

Brown house-moth at UKmoths
{{Authority control Oecophoridae Moths described in 1849 Moths of Europe Moths of Iceland Moths of New Zealand Taxa named by Henry Tibbats Stainton