Photo © Mike Wall

Large Pale Clothes Moth

Tinea pallescentella

Checklist Number
12.030 [B&F: 0245]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Tineidae
Subfamily:Tineinae
Genus:Tinea
Species:pallescentella
Authority:Stainton, 1851

Local inside houses and farm buildings throughout much of the British Isles, more numerous in the north. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight surprisingly rare: there are a few old records from the Isle of Wight, and just one from north Hampshire, but regular in a few locations in south Hampshire until recent years; since the turn of the 21st century it appears to have become very scarce and all records submitted require a specimen or very good photograph for acceptance. Wingspan 12-25 mm. Small weakly marked specimens might be mistaken for one of the Case-bearing Clothes Moth T. pellionella group but can always be distinguished by the plical streak of the forewing (MBGBI Vol 2). Larva feeds on woollen materials, fur, feathers and hair.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
West Park (SU11)27/05/2002oneDavid G GreenAdult

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)1900-K G BlairAdult
Ventnor (SZ57)1926-W FassnidgeAdult
Newport (SZ58)1929-H G JefferyAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)24/09/2013oneJulian ClarkeAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Soberton (SU61)13/05/1972oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)23/09/1985oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)19/10/1989oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)03/05/1990oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)06/05/1990oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)07/05/1990oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)17/05/1990oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)08/10/1990oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)25/09/1991oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)20/07/1994oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)11/07/1995oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)12/10/1995oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)26/07/1996oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)12/08/1997oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)15/08/1997oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)18/08/1998oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)21/09/2003oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Ashurst, NF (SU31)27/10/2006oneKeith GodfreyAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Wildhern (SU35)01/04/1998-David G GreenAdult