Repellents of Clothes Moths

Abstract

SOMEWHAT surprisingly, no precise experiments with the object of discovering effective repellents of clothes moths, of which at least three distinct species occur in this country, appear to have been carried out by any one. Mr. R. G. Johnston is perfectly correct in regarding as devoid of any real foundation the popular belief in the efficacy of camphor as a preservative of clothing against moth, although there is no reason for supposing the insects in question to be deficient in olfactory sense. Naphthalene again, if merely scattered loosely in a drawer or wardrobe containing clothes, will certainly afford no protection whatever. On the other hand, naphthalene is quite satisfactory as a repellent if placed inside clothing which is afforded the additional protection of a wrapping of stout paper, the edges of which freely overlap, and are tightly secured by means of pins.