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| Description | Danger Signs | Potential Harm | Moth Preventative Measures | Moth Pictures |
Moths (Webbing Cloth moth - Tineola bisselliella /
Casemaking Cloth moth - Tinea pellionella) |
| Description |
Clothes moths are well-known pests of fabrics in the home. Two species of clothes moths commonly infest woollens and other animal fibres.
The Indian meal moth, a common house-infesting moth, often is confused with the clothes moth. However, it does not attack clothing but rather is associated with dried food. Indian meal moth adults are darker on one half of the body.
The webbing clothes moth is the most common fabric moth. A dults are golden coloured with reddish golden hairs on top of the head.Wings, with a span of about 1/2 inch, are fringed with a row of golden hairs. Atrest, clothes moths are only about 1/4 inch in length, whereas most food-infesting moths are about 1/2 inch in length. Clothes moths are relatively easy to catch when they land. When examined with a hand lens, little tufts of hair are evident on their heads—food and grain moths do not have these tufts.
Casemaking clothes moths are similar in size and appearance to webbing clothes moths. The wings of the casemaking clothes moth are more brownish than those of the webbing clothes moth and have faint dark-coloured spots. Hairs on the head are lighter coloured than those of the webbing clothes moth. Larvae of both species are nearly identical, except that larvae of the casemaking clothes moth always carry a silken case with them as they feed. They never leave this silken tube, but enlarge it as they grow. They feed from either end and retreat into it when disturbed. This case takes on the coloration of the fabric eaten by the larvae.
Males outlive females and continue to mate during the remainder of their lives. Eggs are attached to threads of fabric with an adhesive secretion; they hatch in 4 to 10 days during warm weather. Larvae moult from 5 to 45 times, depending on indoor temperatures and type of food available.
The larval period lasts from 35 days to 2-1/2 years. Larvae are shiny white with a dark head capsule. They spin webbing as they feed and may partially enclose themselves in a webbing cover or feeding tube, depending on species.
Excrement of the clothes moth may contain dyes from the cloth fibres being consumed and thus be the same colour. When they are ready to pupate, larvae wander away from their food source to find crevices. With the casemaking clothes moth, pupation takes place inside the case—usually on the fabric.
Pupation lasts from 8 to 10 days in summer, 3 to 4 weeks in winter. Heated buildings enable clothes moths to continue development during winter months. Generally, developmental time for the clothes moth from egg to egg is between 4 to 6 months, approximately four generations per year occur under household conditions.
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Danger Signs |
Because the moths are weak flyers and not attracted to lights, they are usually found very close to the infested items, such as in dark areas of closets.
Don't confuse the clothes moth with the common food- and grain-infesting moths that are frequently seen flying around the house.
Clothes moths usually only fly around the immediate area of the house where the infestation is found, and their flight patterns are distinctive they tend to flutter about rather than fly in a direct, steady manner like the food-infesting moths.
The most common sign and clear indication of cloth moths are varying sized holes on garments depending on the level of infestation.
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| Potential Harm |
The larva is the damaging stage of the clothes moth not the adult moth, a common misconception.
The adult clothes moth lays its soft, white eggs in the fabric it attacks. The eggs hatch into creamy-white larvae. The larval stage is the only feeding stage in the moth's life cycle.
F abrics stained by foods, perspiration, or urine are more subject to damage and therefore cleanliness of garments is essential to reduce risk of infestation.
Females of both species of clothes moth lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs over a period of 2 to 3 weeks and die once egg laying has been completed.
Both species feed on wool clothing, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, furs, stored wool, animal bristles in brushes, wool felts in pianos, and fish meal in fish food. Synthetics or fabrics such as cotton are fed on if they are blended with wool. Larvae may use cotton fibers to make their pupal cases.
Damage generally appears in hidden locations such as under collars or cuffs of clothing, in crevices of upholstered furniture, and in areas of carpeting covered by furniture. |
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Moth Preventative Measures |
Most clothes moth infestations in homes are carried in on carpeting, woollen goods, furniture, and other home furnishings. Used household items should be thoroughly sunned before being taken into the home.
Clothing for storage should be dry cleaned and stored in clothing cases or chests.
Larvae are strongly repelled by light, and will fall from clothing when they cannot find protection. It is recommended to air and sun clothing as regularly as possible.
In general, control and prevention measures for carpet beetles also will control clothes moths.
Clothes moths can be controlled by a variety of methods, including periodic dry cleaning or laundering, proper storage, freezing, heating, or fumigating, trapping, or using an insecticide. If humidity can be kept low inside buildings, an environment that is not suitable for clothes moth development will be created. Building construction that is free of many tiny cracks and crevices also contributes to fewer clothes moth problems. Good housekeeping practices are also important.
Preventing or Reducing Infestations
Periodically clean areas of a home that may harbour clothes moths to prevent or control infestation. Those areas include many seldom-cleaned spots, such as:
- under heavy pieces of furniture;
- along baseboards and in cracks where hair and debris accumulate;
- closets, especially those in which woollens and furs are kept; and
- heaters, the areas behind them, and vents.
The vacuum cleaner is the best tool for most of this cleaning. After using it in infested areas, dispose of the bag contents promptly; they may include eggs, larvae, or adult moths.
Clothes moths may first become established on woollen garments or scraps stored for long periods. If such articles are to be saved, they should be stored properly, or periodically hung in the sun and brushed thoroughly, especially along seams and in folds and pockets. Brushing destroys eggs and exposes larvae. Larvae are strongly repelled by light, and will fall from clothing when they cannot find protection. |
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Moth Pictures |
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| Webbing cloth moth and larva |
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Casemaking cloth moth and larva |
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| A close-up of a Webbing cloth moth |
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A close-up of a Casemaking cloth moth |
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