Preliminary investigations into the effect of wool characteristics on webbing clothes moth larvae

Wool samples were taken from unshorn lambs from six sheep breeds with contrasting fibre diameter, fibre curvature and medullation. When staple sections were fed to webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) larvae, significant differences were found between wool samples in all the measured parameters associated with larval feeding behaviour and development. Wools with high fibre curvature were found to have lower mass losses from larvae feeding damage than wools with low fibre curvature. Behavioural responses of larvae to staple structure were considered to be responsible for die significant wool mass loss differences caused by insect feeding between fine and coarse wools. When staple structure was destroyed through fine chopping, the degree of fibre curvature and bulk prior to chopping influenced the extent of moulting by larvae.