Clothes Moths

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 241, 31 December 1927, Page 15

Clothes Moths

THE PROFESSOR AT THE | BREAKFAST TAB I, E I TALKS OF THESE PESTS ! SCIENTIFIC TRIUMPH At last the professor—a real professor, a biologist —took his seat at the breakfast table! Margaret for several minutes previously had been lecturing the air on the ravages of tho clothes moths —how they had fastened on to a rug and how it was almost a wreck. With the arrival of the professor she scented expert opinion and said, “Doctor, moths have ruined my opossum rug. You said last night that every living creature has a purpose—what on earth can be the purpose of the clothes moth? Surely I’ve caught you now!'* Scavenger of Animal Covering “Well, perhaps you have. But like many other insects, the clothes moth is a scavenger. But for him the hair, fur, and wool of all the animals since the beginning of time might be lying about. IT© scavenges the fur of the world. While other animals and insects consume flesh, blood, bone, the clothes moth consumes hair, fur, silk, and wool only—animal remains. But for him and his family hair would be almost indescructible. It is only incidentally that he attacks your fur. Most of his work is done out of doors —but he blows in. And, once indoors, h© often meets the effective opposition of one of the several reliable antimoth preservatives now on the market.” Defeated by Artificial Silk I was getting weary of the clothes moth, and looking up from the pages of my paper said, “Are you interested in artificial silk, doctor?” “That was just what I was coming to,” replied the professor. “The artificial silk industry may help to banish clothes moths from our homes. They must have animal remains; they are no vegetarians.

“And I can assure you that you are safe from the ravages of the clothes moth with all articles made of artificial silk. Another triumph for science!”