house neb
Common Namehouse neb
Scientific NameNemapogon variatella
FamilyTineidae
SubfamilyTineinae
Wingspan (mm)12
Primary Colorslight brown, dark brown, beige, grey
HabitatIndoors (houses, cellars, pantries), forests, woodlands, areas with decaying organic matter.
Geographic RangeWidespread across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, often introduced globally with human commerce.
Host Plantsfungi, decaying wood, cork, dried plant material, stored food products, feathers
Flight PeriodMultiple generations per year, typically May to October in temperate regions, but can be year-round indoors.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are detritivores, feeding on a wide range of dried organic matter. They construct silken tunnels or cases within their food source before pupating.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, the distinctive mottled forewing pattern with irregular dark spots, and its association with stored organic materials or damp, decaying environments.
Description
A small moth with forewings mottled in shades of light brown, beige, and grey, featuring several irregular dark brown to black spots. The hindwings are uniformly greyish-brown with a long fringe.
