Mistaken Moths – A Material Menace
Wonder why you are finding holes in your “securely” stored wardrobe? Pothos White Fungus I just may have the answer you’re looking for…. Clothes moths!
Clothes moths are a notorious wool-munching monster. What many people do not know is that these moths will eat a variety of fibers aside from wool including hair, felt, and fur. Watch your leather and feather as well, because they will consume many of your animal-based material possessions. Items commonly targeted by clothes moths include jackets, blankets, sweaters, carpets, and down pillows and comforters.
There are two types of clothes moths, one is called a webbing moth and the other is called a casemaking moth. The webbing moth is a solid pale color with a patch of hair on their head. The case-making moth, on the other hand, is a bit darker with spots on their wings. This type of moth is a particularly weak flier and therefore commonly hides in dark closets and storage areas, right where you would store all of your cherished clothes.
Clothes moths are often mistaken for Indian meal moths; a type of moth that will linger in your kitchens and pantries. They feed on herbs, nuts, flour, and various other stored food products. The two look-alikes can truly be distinguished by their size and color. Indian meal moths are larger and darker in color; they also have dark brown tipped wings.
Clothes moths are generally no larger than 5 cm and are rarely seen by the human eye, as they avoid light. Females and webbing moths normally travel by either running or hopping; the moth you found flying around was most likely a male. One interesting detail you probably didn’t know is that adult clothes moths do not feed, in fact most of them do not live longer than a month or so; therefore they are not the pests destroying all of your precious clothing and material. It’s their kids! That’s right, the eggs that adult clothes moths produce eventually hatch into fabric-eating larvae. The length of time that the larvae feed can vary from several weeks to a couple of years, depending upon their environmental surroundings. Factors impacting their length of feeding include temperature, humidity, and even the quality of their food (yes, the material and quality of your clothes!). Once the larvae are full grown they spin a silk casing and transform into an adult moth. Once broken out of their encasement, adult moths almost immediately begin laying eggs; which means more larvae to destroy your belongings ().
Ok.. so let’s get down to it. You want to get rid of these guys don’t you? Following are some tips on protecting your materials and taking care of your moth problem.
1)- Controlling your infestation requires a thorough inspection. It is recommended that your hire a licensed professional to facilitate the process and locate all potential sources of your infestation.
2)- Store your clothing and fabrics in tightly packed containers.
3)- All items that have been infested should …
There are two species of moths found in Missouri that are very well-known for destroying clothes. The webbing clothes moth is by far the most common, and is found throughout the United States; however, the case-making clothes moth is also very common. Both insects look very similar, and can be difficult to tell apart. The wing spread of both animals measures about half of an inch across, wing tip to wing tip. The rear wings have long fringes on the edge. Both moths are a buff to golden color. The differences between the two creatures are few; the webbing clothes moth has a red tuft of hair on its head, while the case-making moth does not. The case-making clothes moth also has three dark dots on each of its wings. Even the larvae look extremely alike; both grow to about half of an inch long, are all white, and have a brown head.