The presence of moths in your home can be baffling. Not due to the harm they can cause, however it’s probably going to be harm to garments, materials and texture that you may have an enthusiastic connection to – no one needs to discover harm on their painstakingly put away wedding dress, or openings in a knitted toss passed on from an adored grandma. The harm these vermin can cause to rugs, blinds and upholstery can likewise turn out to be expensive
They damage clothing and fabric
Moths have been an enduring enemy of nice clothing. Moths are notorious for chewing through garments and leaving unsightly holes in them, and this is one of the most obvious signs of Moth infestation. The species of moth known as common clothes moth, given its name for this very reason, is the main culprit here. Clothes moths have a diet that consists of fabrics made from animal fibers, such as leather, fur, silk, felt, and most commonly, wool. The materials contain a fibrous protein called keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails, which provides sustenance to moths and their larvae.
Damage food packaging
Another telltale sign of a moth infestation is finding holes in the food packaging kept in your cupboards. The food items at the greatest risk are dried foods such as nuts, grains, flour, and cereal. There are several types of moth that will typically go after food, and for this reason, they’re often called ‘food moths’ or ‘pantry moths’.
As with all the signs we mention in the article, once you notice them, it’s too late. Seeing holes in your food packaging means that you already have a moth problem. It also means that it’s best not to eat the food that’s in damaged packaging and throw it out straight away.
Larvae and cocoons
Moths are similar to butterflies in that they have larvae (or caterpillars) that build themselves a cocoon in which they stay before emerging as fully-grown moths. Moth larvae will stay very close to their eggs and will spend approximately six months feeding and staying protected by the warm, dark materials their eggs were laid in. During this time, the bulk of the damage to your clothing and carpets occurs.
Much like moth eggs, larvae are very small and difficult to spot. They’re a pale, translucent colour and they take on the colour of whatever food they’re eating. Therefore, they’ll blend in with their surroundings and will be virtually impossible to find unless you’re actively looking for them.
Cocoons are slightly larger than the larvae but a similar colour – pale and fairly translucent. If you notice random holes in your garments, look around for moth larvae and cocoons because they probably won’t be far away.
