Clothes Moth Larvae

There are plenty of things in our homes for clothes moth larvae to feast on.

Clothes moth larvae.

If you see a swarm of moths it will likely be either clothing or pantry moths pantry moth pictured here. The webbing clothes moth tineola bisselliella is the most commonly found clothes moth. The larvae of casemaking clothes moths create small fibrous tubes that cling to the material they re eating. The webbing clothes moth otherwise known as the common clothes moth is prolific across the us and is the most likely carpet moth you will find followed by the case bearing clothes moth which attack carpets and clothes.

Casemaking clothes moth larvae wrap themselves in cocoon like tubes that they drag along as they feed. 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. These webs can be a good way to locate the pests. Their larvae which are responsible for your damaged fabrics are worms that are about a half inch long.

Use hot water and high heat in the dryer if possible. When they first hatch they re only a millimetre long and they burrow into your clothes so you don t see. They then begin to eat the fibres in the material which causes holes in clothes or loss of pile in patches on carpets. In fact there is evidence that clothes moth larvae will not develop on clean fabric because it lacks certain necessary nutrients.

Webbing clothes moth larvae move along fabric leaving spun silk webbing and chewed fibers in their path. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella for example by g. Brown house moths and white shouldered moths are less common but potentially equally damaging to your carpets. Clothes moth larvae are especially damaging to fabric that has been stained or soiled.

Food stains sweat and urine are especially attractive. The recommended steps for freezing your clothes to kill moth larvae and eggs are. The casemaking clothes moth tinea pellionella with brownish wings and. Moths don t eat clothes.

Both moths have cream colored wings and bodies. There are two commonly encountered types of clothes moth larvae. Identify and isolate the infested clothing items place in a sealed airtight bag and do not over stuff the bag with clothing to ensure all clothes properly freeze deep freeze ideally for a week but at least 72 hours. The larvae that hatch from the eggs of clothes moths spin silk webbing into a tunnel across the attacked material.

Herrich schäffer when he established tineola. Life of a clothes moth.