Velvet Ameletid Mayfly vs Casemaking Clothes Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Velvet Ameletid Mayfly Casemaking Clothes Moth
Scientific Name Ameletus velox Tinea pellionella
Order Ephemeroptera Lepidoptera
Family Ameletidae Tineidae
Size 9-13 mm 10-15 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Underground
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Cosmopolitan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Velvet Ameletid Mayfly

A swift-swimming mayfly of headwater streams known for its velvety-textured nymphal cuticle. Adults emerge in early summer.

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Did You Know?

The species name velox means swift, referring to the remarkable swimming speed of the nymphs.

Casemaking Clothes Moth

A small silvery-brown moth whose larva constructs a portable silken case that it drags along as it feeds. It is a significant pest of furs, woolens, and museum specimens.

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Did You Know?

The larva never leaves its portable case, enlarging it as it grows by adding fibers from whatever material it is eating.