Clothes-moths
Guides
Phereoeca praecox
Phereoeca praecox is a species of moth in the family Tineidae, first described by Gozmány & Vári in 1973. Records indicate presence in West Africa (Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone) and at least two confirmed records in South Carolina, USA. The species belongs to a genus whose members are commonly known as clothes moths or related tineids, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Tineidae
fungus moths, tineid moths, clothes moths
Tineidae is a large family of moths containing over 3,000 species across more than 300 genera. Members are commonly known as fungus moths or clothes moths, reflecting their diverse larval feeding habits. The family is notable for its unusual dietary breadth among Lepidoptera: most larvae feed on fungi, lichens, and detritus rather than living plants, though some species have adapted to keratin-based materials including stored fabrics, feathers, and even tortoise shells. Several species are significant household pests, while others play important roles in decomposition.