At that time most moths were included in a single genus "Phalaena", but Tinea was already recognized as a distinct subgenus.

Some later researchers who studied this moth erroneously believed they had discovered populations formerly unknown to science and described them as new species, but today these are all included within T. pellionella.

It is silvery grey to shiny light brown in color, with dark grayish hairs on the top of its head.

It also consumes detritus, cobwebs, bird nests (particularly of the domestic pigeon), stored vegetable produce and wallpaper.

[9][10] It is synanthropic; the adult is typically encountered during summer and early autumn, but populations that live in human dwellings may be seen at other times of the year.