All About Closet Moths

Almost everyone has had the experience of reaching into your closet for your favorite suit only to find tiny little moth holes. There are two types of closet moths that typically attack clothing: the webbing clothes moth (Tineola Bisselliella) and the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea Pellionella). These moths are so small that you may not even notice them in your closet until the day you discover your ruined suit.

Different from the moths that invade pantries, these two moths are less than an inch in size. The webbing clothes moth is a uniform color. The casemaking clothes moth has darker specs on its wings. One of the most interesting facts about these moths is that the adults don’t have any functioning mouths! That’s right, it’s not the moths that are eating your clothing or linens but their very hungry larvae offspring.

Info From the Clothing Moth Experts at the University of Kentucky

According to Michael F. Potter, extension entomologist, clothes moths feed only on animal fibers because they contain a fibrous protein called keratin that nourishes the larvae. That’s why your polyesters are pristine.

Should you find your clothing is damaged, an assessment should include looking at rug seams and the undersides of upholstered furniture to get a full picture of the extent of the infestation.

Prevention and Eradication

The University of California’s Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources recommends “periodic dry cleaning or laundering, proper storage, freezing, heating, fumigating with dry ice, trapping, or insecticides.” In addition, these closet moths do not like low humidity levels, so cranking up the air conditioner is a good idea.

The best prevention methods are to regularly vacuum and clean areas that can harbor these moths, even seldom-cleaned spots such as underneath furniture, along baseboards, and inside vents. Should you have an infestation, do not empty the vacuum inside the home.

Caught early, a closet moth infestation can be eradicated by oneself, but there are times when a professional pest control company has the best experience and equipment to manage a large infestation more effectively. Ecola is always ready to help with any pest control problem, large or small. Call Ecola when you need an expert opinion on how to get rid of any pest in your home or office at (800) 332-BUGS (2847).