moths

Moth \Moth\, n.; pl. {Moths} (m[o^]thz). [OE. mothe, AS.
   mo[eth][eth]e; akin to D. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and
   prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf. {Mad}, n., {Mawk}.]
   1. (Zool.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not
      included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io
      moth; hawk moth.
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   2. (Zool.) Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments,
      grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth.
      See these terms under {Clothes}, {Grain}, etc.
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   3. (Zool.) Any one of various other insects that destroy
      woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvae of several
      species of beetles of the genera {Dermestes} and
      {Anthrenus}. Carpet moths are often the larvae of
      {Anthrenus}. See {Carpet beetle}, under {Carpet},
      {Dermestes}, {Anthrenus}.
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   4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or
      wastes any other thing.
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   {Moth blight} (Zool.), any plant louse of the genus
      {Aleurodes}, and related genera. They are injurious to
      various plants.

   {Moth gnat} (Zool.), a dipterous insect of the genus
      {Bychoda}, having fringed wings.

   {Moth hunter} (Zool.), the goatsucker.

   {Moth miller} (Zool.), a clothes moth. See {Miller}, 3,
      (a) .

   {Moth mullein} (Bot.), a common herb of the genus {Verbascum}
      ({Verbascum Blattaria}), having large wheel-shaped yellow
      or whitish flowers.
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