Carpet Moths Vs Clothes Moths

The casemaking clothes moth tinea pellionella with brownish wings and lighter colored hairs on its head.

Carpet moths vs clothes moths.

Pantry moths and clothes moth look different and you can figure out which you have most easily by comparing the moths you have to pictures of both a clothes moth and a pantry moth. 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 long term solution to infestations is to make sure that birds nests are removed from attics and particularly from disused chimneys. 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.

The webbing clothes moth tineola bisselliella is the most commonly found clothes moth. Given the threat posed by carpet moths and clothes moths which will eagerly destroy keratin containing fabrics before they complete metamorphosis it s important to understand the differences between these two pests often people believe that any common outdoor moth has the potential to burrow itself under carpets and. Clothes moths and pantry moths can be a real pest when they start eating your woollens and getting into your flour. Clothes moths don t like light and are so secretive that you ll probably never see them.

Clothes moths crave the natural fibers in clothing including silk cotton wool etc drapes curtains upholstery carpet bedding etc just about any natural fiber they can find. Identifying clothes carpet moths webbing clothes moth case bearing clothes moth. The most common clothes moths are the webbing clothes moth easily identified with a golden color 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 smaller indistinct black spots. Or you move some furniture to find the carpet underneath has bare patches.

How can you tell the difference between a carpet moth and a clothes moth. Damage to woolens is actually done by the larvae of two types of insects. What s more the adult moths won t do any harm. The carpet moth is a common household textile pest.

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are frequently found in birds nests and discarded animal based textiles such as old carpets and underlays in loft areas. They will even eat through synthetic materials on the lookout for any natural fibers that may be hidden inside so not even polyester is safe from them.