Kathy L. Starr, age 11, of Williamsport, Pa., for her question:

Do moths really eat clothes?

The clothes moth is a smallish flying insect with mouse colored wings. You would hardly notice her, and she never takes a bite of anyone's socks or mittens. She is the adult clothes moth and she does not eat clothes. But she lays eggs that hatch into tiny grubs that stuff themselves on certain types of clothing fabric.

The mother insect can find the most carefully hidden store of clothing and squeeze her way through a pinhole. She works hard to find the right p1ace to lay her eggs and the right place where the newly hatched grubs will find a plentiful supply of woolen fabric. Mrs. Moth does not eat clothes, but she lays the Eggs that hatch into the grubs that can ruin a closet or storage box of clothing in a few weeks.