[1] It is widespread and common in much of the western Palearctic (except for outlying islands, e.g. Iceland, and cold regions such as the far north of Scotland), but has also been introduced elsewhere (e.g. in Australia and New Zealand).

The adult moths are on the wing around May to September, depending on the location; they are not fond of bright daylight and will only come out in the late afternoon.

The hindwings are a silvery white; they are surrounded by a long-haired fringe, as usual for fungus moths and relatives.

Though they will eat discarded wool and similar fabrics, they are more commonly found in bird nests – particularly of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica), swallows (Hirundinidae) and woodpeckers (Picidae) –, where they feed on shed feathers and feces.

[7] Invalid scientific names (junior synonyms and others) of the brown-dotted clothes moth are:[8] N. spretella is sometimes still considered a distinct species, but most recent authors include it here.