Carpet Moths Eat Clothes

The carpet moth is a common household textile pest.

Carpet moths eat clothes.

Adult case bearing carpet moth. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella for example by g. Damage to woolens is actually done by the larvae of two types of insects. Moths are one of the most common bugs that eat clothes.

The casemaking clothes moth tinea pellionella with brownish wings and lighter colored hairs on its head. You may have stopped moths eating carpet fibres in your home but it s likely they already left some damage behind. Tineola bisselliella known as the common clothes moth webbing clothes moth or simply clothing moth is a species of fungus moth family tineidae subfamily tineinae it is the type species of its genus tineola and was first described by arvid david hummel in 1823. Although very different in appearance and habits both are pests which eat animal fibres such as wool carpets and cashmere or mohair clothing.

The most common pests in the american household are moths and carpet beetles. Another common clothes moth haven are rolls of leftover carpet or unused rugs in attics or basements. The webbing clothes moth tineola bisselliella is the most commonly found clothes moth. There are two main types of insect which cause serious damage to textiles in the british isles.

This creates the perfect storm of clothes moth habitat. There are many bugs that eat clothing and fabrics in closets dressers cabinets and wardrobes. Carpet moth larvae feed predominately on keratin found in natural fibres such as wool and so can live on any carpet with some wool content. As moth infestations aren t usually covered by household insurance having a few tricks up your sleeve to deal with the damage they leave behind is important.

Alamy rather confusingly most of these moth species will sometimes switch from carpets to clothes and chew any natural fabrics like cotton wool and silk. A carpet moth infestation can be a costly problem as it can cause serious and often irreperable damage to carpets rugs and other soft furnishings in the home. The most common clothes moths are the webbing clothes moth easily identified with a golden colour and around half an inch in length and the case bearing moth which can be identified about inch long and their forewings are mottled brown with one large and a few. Identifying clothes carpet moths webbing clothes moth case bearing clothes moth.

What s more the adult moths won t do any harm. Clothes moths and carpet beetles the latter being more prevalent than moths in most areas of the country. Herrich schäffer when he established tineola. Clothes moths don t like light and are so secretive that you ll probably never see them.

Clothes moths prefer dark places where they won t be disturbed meaning that a regularly used wardrobe is often a last resort rather than a cherished home.