Hofmannophila pseudospretella

Distinguished from the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) by larger size and more mottled brown forewing pattern. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 15–20 mm. Forewings are brown with darker speckling; hindwings are pale grey-brown. Larvae are whitish with a brown head capsule.

Human-associated environments including houses, warehouses, and storage facilities. Favors dark, undisturbed locations such as unheated basements, attics, and stored product storage areas.

Cosmopolitan distribution associated with human commerce. Native to Europe; now established across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and other regions. Records include Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, and numerous other countries.

Adults have been observed emerging in early June following larval development through winter months. Activity likely year-round in heated indoor environments.

Keratinous materials including wool, fur, feathers, and hair; also dried plant material such as dried mint (Mentha). Larvae possess specialized digestive enzymes (γ-glutamyl transpeptidase/isopeptidase) for breaking down isopeptide bonds in keratin proteins.

Complete metamorphosis with larval development occurring through winter months. Adults emerge in early summer (June) based on rearing observations. Copulation may last up to 24 hours. Females lay eggs on substrates after mating.

Young adults exhibit negative phototaxis. Males locate females via olfactory cues; detection distance increases from minimal range to approximately 38 cm after females extend their ovipositor ("lock position") 2–3 days post-emergence. Males possess specialized sensillae in scale-free grooves on antennal undersides for pheromone detection. Females show fewer and shorter antennal sensillae. Males can mate with at least three females. Post-copulation, females become positively geotactic and move to substrates for oviposition. Larvae exhibit gregarious behavior with massive proliferation potential.

Decomposer of keratinous and dried organic materials in human-modified environments. Pest of stored products and natural history collections.

Significant pest of stored products, textiles, and museum specimens. Larvae cause severe damage to woolens, furs, dried herbs, and other stored materials. One documented infestation reduced 50 kg bales of dried mint to dust within months. Control requires proper storage, monitoring, and integrated pest management in domestic and commercial settings.

• Tineola bisselliellaCommon clothes moth; similar keratin-feeding habit but smaller with more uniform golden-brown coloration. Hofmannophila pseudospretella is larger with more mottled patterning.
• Borkhausenia spp.Closely related genus; taxonomic distinction from Hofmannophila remains under study. Morphological separation may require genitalic examination.

• pest
• stored product
• keratinophagous
• cosmopolitan
• museum pest
• textile pest

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stt. [Lep. Gelechiidae] hôte indésirable des habitations et des magasins
• Beobachtungen über das Sexualverhalten von Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stt.1
• The digestive system of the keratin‐feeding larvae of Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
• Identification of isopeptidase activity in the midgut of insects: Purification, properties and nutritional ecology of a Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) larval enzyme
• The genome sequence of the Brown House-moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton, 1849).