TEXTILE PESTS

Textiles pests including Clothes moth and Carpet beetle establishing in your home or business may cause serious damage to natural fibres of clothing, carpets, artefacts and stored items.

Clothes moths are so secretive that you’ll probably never see them. If adults are disturbed they will scuttle off to a secure area and this may be the tell-tale signs of an infestation.

The adult moths do not eat, and live solely for the purpose of mating and laying eggs. Adults seek out tight spaces and can crawl through small cracks and openings to find appropriate food sources upon which to lay their eggs.

They are particularly attracted to soiled fibres, with traces of sweat, oils, or food. The larvae are unable to fully develop on completely clean fabric; they need the proteins, mineral salts and Vitamin B complex found in dirt, sweat and food particles.

Moth and beetle larvae shun bright light, so they rarely attack frequently worn clothing or heavily trafficked carpets. They thrive in clothing that is packed away and carpet hidden under furniture, especially if there are food spills or other attractive scents.

Despite their names, clothes moths can attack carpets and carpet beetle can attack clothes.

Both insects lay eggs in secluded spots with plenty of food, wool, and other animal-based materials.

Larvae emerge within a few weeks; beetle larvae can feed on fabric for a year or more and moth larvae may cause damage for a couple months.

It is only when these insects become established in your property, and are left untreated, that they cause serious harm, such as:

• Damage to historic artefacts
• Damage to clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture
• Contamination of foodstuffs and fabric–based goods

Identification

Case Bearing Clothes Moth

• They are greyish-brown to dark in colour, about 7-10mm in body length
• Dislikes light and frequent dark areas. Often scurries across surfaces instead of flying when disturbed
• Larvae between 7-10mm, cream caterpillar with dark brown head, lives in small case or cocoon its entire life, and carries this around with it, prefers undisturbed areas
• Adult lifespan 3-8 months