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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Tineidae
300164 – 0411   Niditinea fuscella (Linnaeus, 1758)
             European House Moth

© Mark Dreiling - DNA
Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Detritophagous.  Host genera: Detritophagous[omnivorous].  Notes: dried potatoes, “hair mattress,” dead Isabella tiger moth, American robin carcass, dry animal feed, chicken coop, whale bone, grasshopper eggs, wheat, deer tick carcass, bird seed (Metz et al 2018).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025)
Genitalia: See Metz et al. (2018).
Similar Species:
  • 300164 Niditinea fuscella: is best separated by dissection.
  • 300165 Niditinea orleansella: is best separated by dissection.
  • 300165.1 Niditinea sabroskyi: is best separated by dissection.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • fuscella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: [NEW]
  • abligatella (Walker, 1863) (Tinea)
  • crinitella (Schrank, 1802) (Tinea)
  • distans (Gozmány, 1959) (Tinea)
  • eurinella (Zagulajev, 1952) (Tinea)
  • frigidella (Packard, 1867) (Oecophora)
  • fuscipunctella (Haworth, 1828) (Tinea)
  • griseella (Chambers, 1873) (Tinea)
  • ignotella (Walker, 1864) (Tinea)
  • nubilipennella (Clemens, 1859) (Tinea)
  • spretella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Tinea) - MONA 1983: [411]
  • Taxonomic Notes: Niditinea fuscella (Linnaeus, 1758) is a replacement name for Niditinea spretella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).
    References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
    • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
    • Metz, M.A., D.R. Davis & M.M. Davis, 2018. A New Species of Niditinea (Tineidae: Tineinae) with a Preference for Bird Nests, and the Known Larval Habitats of the Species in the United States. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 120(1): 153-166.
    • Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
    • Species Page at Block Island Moths
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at Mass Moths
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    Niditinea fuscella
    © Mark Dreiling - DNA
    Niditinea fuscella
    © Greg Raterman
    Niditinea fuscella
    LG - – Mark Metz
    Niditinea fuscella
    LG - – Mark Metz
    Niditinea fuscella
    10mm – © Mississippi Entomological Museum
    Niditinea fuscella
    11mm – © Mississippi Entomological Museum

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