Tinea pellionella complex (Clothes moths (Tineidae))

Moths of the Tinea pellionella complex, and Tineola bisselliella, are “housemoths” the larvae of which feed on a wide variety of animal origin matter including woollen carpets that are or have been damp. 

Tinea pellionella complex have variable patterns, from a darkish grey/brown (often with a few darker spots), through plain light yellow/beige to off white.  It is hard to distinguish between light yellow specimens of the Tinea pellionella complex and the consistently light gold pattern of Tineola bisselliella.   There are differences in their head structures, but they are unlikely to be visible in a live photo.  The moths in record 4245676 are clearly plain gold and are attributed to Tineola bisselliella on CNM.  The photos in the record 4249751 might illustrate both species  -  although the darkness that is apparent in the first three may be an artifact of the photo and they are really the same as the last two that seem to be Tineola bisselliella. 

The larvae of Tineola bisselliella are usually found within an untidy mass of webbing, whereas those of the Tinea pellionella complex each construct a portable silk case incorporating fragments of the food as disguise.