It's That Time of Year - Moths

Moths can be source of great distress: a fear of moths is called Mottephobia. If moths are present in your business or domestic premises they can be a source of frustration and expense. They can cause damage to fabrics and material and while the damage to such items may be costly to replace, they may also have sentimental value. Consider quilts sewn by relatives who wished to lend a personal touch to their gift, or a wedding dress stored for the use of daughters and granddaughters. Then we might consider the expense incurred if we had to replace upholstery, curtains, fabric and other such furnishings. Moths are not, however, a health risk.

It is a curious fact that the moths themselves don’t actually eat the fabric. In the life of a moth the main drive and purpose is to reproduce: it is the moth larvae that damage your goods. While we find that there are thousands of species of moth worldwide, in the UK there are only 4 species that actually cause damage to fabric and material. These four have differing preferences for the materials in connection with which they are problematic. As mentioned, it is their larvae that cause the damage.

The Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretell) is very commonly found in business and domestic premises. The adult is 8-14mm long and is brown in colour with three or four darker spots. The pestilential larvae are, individually, up to 20mm long. These larvae prefer to feed on animal textiles such as leather, wool and feather. They generate annually and the larva may travel large distances before pupation. These are considered to be scavengers.

The White-Shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) are, on the whole, less damaging to textiles. The adult is 6-10mm in length with a white head and mottled wings. The larvae are up to 12 mm long, cream coloured and with a red-brown head. The pupa is in a silk cocoon. They generate once annually and can often be found in unheated outdoor buildings and outhouses. The larvae scavenge on a broad range of foods

The Common Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella) is known for making irregular holes in fabrics. The adults have straw coloured wings with no markings. They are 6-8mm in length and the trailing edge of the wings is fringed. The larvae are up to 10mm long, cream white in colour with a brown head. From egg to adult the duration is usually about 6 weeks. In terms of longevity, the common clothes moth may reach 10 to 18 months depending on food quality and ambient temperature. The adult does not feed curiously enough; it runs rather than flies and avoids light

The Case-Bearing Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella) makes regular holes in fabric. Adults are 6-8mm

long with dark buff forewings topped with three faint spots, which may appear as two spots. The larvae are up to 10mm in length and creamy white in colour. In terms of lifecycle, the Case-Bearing Clothes Moth is similar to the Common Clothes Moth. These are, however, more rare. Imported goods are a common hiding place for these moths such as hides or objects of an animal origin.

In a case of moth infestation, people generally first notice the damage to clothes, fabrics carpets etc. There are other indications and signs that you might have such an infestation:

Small maggot-like larvae

Silken sheath-like tubes and cases in which moth larvae live

Silk cocoons, or pupae, from which larvae emerge as moths

You might also notice adult moths crawling rather than flying

 

The prevention of moths and moth infestation in your domestic or business premises can be difficult. There are certain practical steps that you can take to reduce the risk. At Key West Pest Control, we would advise trying to deny moths access in to your buildings. You might try using fly screens or drawing curtains at night to deny entry. We would advise vacuuming regularly: this will ensure that hidden areas beneath large furniture and sofas will be free of eggs. You might also keep textiles stored within sealed bags or suitcases in order to prevent access. Making sure that clothes are clean, and not dirty, will help – moths prefer dirty clothes. Moth repellents and other DIY pest control products are available for you to try to control a small problem. If you wish to guarantee complete control of a large and repeat infestation, call Key West Pest Control: we’re the professionals equipped, trained and certified to rid you of your woes.

Areas in your domestic and business premises that are at high risk for moth infestations include infrequently used cupboards, drawers and wardrobes; underneath beds; and in lofts and attics – moths can be attracted to bird nests.