![]() Controlling Current InfestationsĬontrolling clothes moths requires a thorough inspection to locate all infested items. Infestations may also originate from bird nests or animal carcasses present in attics, chimneys or wall cavities. 4: Carpet beetle larvae damage many of the same materials as clothes moths.Ĭlothes moths may also be found infesting upholstered furniture (both inside and out), and in vents and ducts where the larvae may be feeding on lint, shed pet hair and other bits of debris. Edges and undersides of rugs, or sections beneath furniture are more likely to be attacked.įig. Clothing and blankets in regular use are seldom infested, nor are rugs that get a normal amount of traffic, or are routinely vacuumed. The larvae prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, chests and boxes where woolens and furs are stored for long periods. Articles commonly infested include sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, rugs, down pillows and comforters, upholstery, toys, decorative items, and taxidermy mounts. (For more information on carpet beetles, see University of Kentucky Entomology Entfact-601.) As noted earlier, clothes moths feed on such animal-derived materials as wool, fur, silk, feathers and leather. However, these pests are quite different in appearance. Carpet beetles are very common in homes and buildings, and feed on most of the same materials as clothes moths. It is important to recognize that damage attributed to clothes moths may in fact be caused by another group of insects adapted to digesting keratin- carpet beetles. ![]() 3: Casemaking clothes moth larvae feed and move about within a tubular case. ![]() Oftentimes, the larvae crawl off the item to spin their cocoons in crevices of shelving, or along the juncture of walls and ceilings.įig. Unlike the webbing clothes moth, casemaking clothes moths seldom incorporate webbing or cocoons into the materials on which they are feeding. Incorporated into the silken case are fibers from materials the larva have fed on. The casemaking clothes moth encloses itself in an open-ended tubular case, which it drags about wherever it goes. 2: Webbing clothes moth larva (left) and fecal pellets (right). On animal (taxidermy) mounts, clumps of hair will often detach from the skin. As larvae graze along the surface, threadbare spots occur where fibers are removed at the base. They often feed within folds of fabric and other concealed areas. Webbing clothes moth larvae spin silken tubes or patches of webbing as they move about on the surface of infested materials. Development time before transforming into a moth varies greatly (from one month to as much as two years), depending on temperature, food availability, and other factors. The larval stage of clothes moths are creamy-white caterpillars up to 1/2-inch long. However, the adults lay about 40-50 pinhead-sized eggs on vulnerable substrates, which in turn, hatch into the fabric-eating larvae. Clothes moth adults do not feed so they cause no injury to fabrics. Casemaking clothes moths are similar in appearance, but have dark specks on the wings. Adult webbing clothes moths are a uniform, buff-color, with a small tuft of reddish hairs on top of the head. Two different types of clothes moths are common in North America - the webbing clothes moth ( Tineola bisselliella) and the casemaking clothes moth ( Tinea pellionella). 1: Adult webbing clothes moths (top) are sometimes mistaken for grain-infesting moths, such as the Indianmeal moth (bottom). Similar-looking moths spotted in kitchens and other well-lighted areas are possibly grain moths originating from cereals, dried fruit, nuts, or other stored foods.įig. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, basements and attics. Unlike some other types of moths, clothes moths are seldom seen because they avoid light. They are often mistaken for grain moths infesting stored food items in kitchens and pantries. They have narrow wings that are fringed with small hairs. Facts about Clothes MothsĬlothes moths are small, 1/2-inch moths that are beige or buff-colored. Serious infestations of clothes moths can develop undetected in dwellings, causing irreparable harm to vulnerable materials. (In nature, the larvae feed on the nesting materials or carcasses of birds and mammals.) Cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless blended with wool, or heavily soiled with food stains or body oils. These materials contain keratin, a fibrous protein that the worm-like larvae of the clothes moth can digest. They feed exclusively on animal fibers, especially wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather. University of Kentucky College of AgricultureĬlothes moths are pests that can destroy fabric and other materials. ENTFACT-609: Clothes Moths | Download PDF by Michael F.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |