How to Get Rid of Moths
We have all experienced the annoyance of having to deal with moths flitting around the lights inside our homes on a summer’s evening.
What many people don’t realise, however, is that these insects can actually pose much more serious pest control issues if they lay eggs inside your property.
Clothes moth larvae will munch their way through the natural fibres of your favorite clothes, rugs, carpets, and upholstery, leaving unsightly holes and damage that is often irreparable.
Pantry moths on the other hand will target your food, gorging themselves on any cereal, grain, or other dried food products that they can get find.
Luckily, Clark Pest Control is here to help, offering a wide range of solutions to all forms of moth problems to customers across the whole of Scotland.
This guide will give you all the information that you need to spot a moth infestation before it is too late, tell you how to identify the species that has invaded your home, how to get rid of moths, and when it is time to call a professional pest controller.
Moth Species
Moths are extremely closely related to butterflies and follow a very similar lifecycle from egg to caterpillar to adulthood.
Unlike many butterflies, however, they tend to be much duller in appearance, with brown, white, and grey being the primary shades of the species commonly found in the UK.
There are an incredible 2,500 estimated moth species in the UK, with more found every year, but luckily only a few cause pest control issues on a regular basis.
These tend to be the species that prefer warmer climates that are only able to survive the winter in heated buildings and those that have a taste for the natural fibres found in many fabrics or human foods such as cereals and grains.
Here are some of the most common moth species that we deal with here at Clark Pest Control:
Common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella)
The common clothes moth is an extremely destructive moth species and a frequent cause of pest control problems in the UK.
This species is found in close to every region of the UK and Ireland.
Adult moths can be identified by their golden-yellow wings measuring around 10-15mm, with a tuft of red hairs on the head.
As you may have guessed, this species loves to infest wardrobes and other dark spaces filled with clothes and fabrics, hiding under collars, in pockets, and under cuffs.
As well as clothes, the larvae of common clothes moths can feed on carpets, rugs, furniture, and any other form of upholstery.
Outside of the human home, the common clothes moth will feed on pollen, hair, wool, and dried insect remains.
Female moths will die shortly after laying their eggs but given that they can lay up to 50 eggs at a time, an infestation can grow extremely fast.
Case-Bearing Clothes Moth (Tinea Pellionella)
Another of the moth species that will do damage to your clothes and home furnishings, the larvae of the case-bearing clothes moth will build themselves a case out of any natural fibres they can find nearby.
With a body of around 7mm and a wingspan of 10-15 mm the case-bearing clothes moth is brown in colour with distinguishable black spots across its wings.
The easiest way to identify these moths is by the hairy fringe that they have on their wings.
Traditionally, thanks to their preference for warmer climates, case-bearing clothes moths have been a summer only pest in the UK, but thanks to advances in heating systems it is now possible to spot them at any time of the year.
Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)
Compared to other fabric eating moths the Brown House Moth is large in size, with its yellow-brown slender wings reaching a span of anywhere from 15-26 mm.
Brown house moths are classed as pantry moths rather than clothes moths however, they are just as happy to feed on your natural wool jumper as they are feeding on the cereals and grains in your kitchen.
Basically, the larvae will feed on whatever is edible and closest to them at the time of hatching, and a lot is edible for the Brown House Moth.
During a lifespan of around 5 months, a female moth can lay as many as 600 eggs which quite uniquely have a massive incubation period of anywhere from 8-100 days depending on environmental conditions.
If you live in the very north of Scotland it may be that you are lucky enough to be in one of the very few areas of the UK that the Brown House Moth has yet to explore, but these pests can be found pretty much everywhere else across the nation.
White-shouldered house moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)
The white-shouldered house moth is similar to the brown house moth in many ways with brown mottled wings and a white head and shoulders that give them their name.
They have a wingspan of around 10-23 mm, and feed on organic debris of many kinds.
An infestation of this species is generally a sign of poor hygiene nearby as these moths thrive in animal hair and the fluff gathered in radiators and underneath furniture.
The Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)
The Indian Meal Moth is the most commonly found pantry moth in the UK.
Unlike clothes moths, pantry moths target your food rather than your fabrics and will be found in dry stored foods such as pasta, cereal, and rice.
A meal moth infestation can be brought into your property in any one of these products or similar, before spreading far and wide throughout your kitchen cupboards.
Indian Meal Moths are relatively large in size with a wingspan of 18-20mm with distinctive multi-coloured wings that makes identification relatively easy.
The outer portion is a subtle dark grey or bronze colour whilst the upper half is white-yellow, with the sections being broken up by a solid black band.
The first indication that you will probably get that you have a meal-moth infestation, is the presence of silk wedding formed by the larvae.
Other Pests
If you have spotted fabric damage inside your home there is a good chance that moths are responsible but this is not a guarantee.
Other fabric pests such as carpet beetles often reveal themselves through similar damage and also feed on the keratin protein that is so appealing to clothes and carpet moths.
If left to their own devices, fabric pests of any kind can do irreparable damage to valuable textiles and historic art pieces.
For this reason, swift identification and appropriate action are vital.
Are moths dangerous?
Of all the pest species in the UK, moths are one of the only ones that we accept that will venture into our properties at some point every year.
Many people are completely unaware that moths can even be classed as pests under certain circumstances.
In general, the odd moth coming into your home is no problem but if a female is able to lay eggs inside and a large population begins to make itself at home they can quickly become extremely problematic.
Here are some of the biggest reasons that moth infestations are considered as significant pest problems:
Property Damage
Damaging clothes and soft furnishings is what moths are perhaps best known for, and for a good reason. They are remarkably good at it.
Often the first sign people will see that they have a moth infestation is small, or large, holes in their clothing, wear on their rugs and carpets, or damage to any other soft furnishings created from natural fibres.
Often, the damage that has already been done before discovery is so extensive that the items targeted cannot be repaired.
Now, this might be an annoyance alone if you have to lose a nice woolen jumper, but many non-clothing items targeted by moths are far more valuable, both financially and historically.
Vintage clothing, for a start, can not only be extremely expensive but many pieces are one of a kind and simply can never be replaced.
Even if you can find the same or similar item again, you will likely have to pay a significant amount for its acquisition, meaning that a moth infestation can take a major toll on your finances.
Health
Unlike other pest species such as flies, fleas, or rodents, clothes moths do not pose a direct threat to human physical health.
This is not to say that they are harmless, however, and knowing that you have an infestation somewhere in your home can be extremely stressful.
However, pantry moths that target your food more often than your furnishings are a more serious health concern.
The faeces and cocoons of pantry moth larvae can contaminate the food they are found on and when these foods are then consumed by humans there is a genuine risk of illness.
There is also a risk of caterpillar dermatitis if an adult moth comes into contact with your skin, a skin condition that causes small itchy red bumps, and swelling.
Allergies
As adult moths move around your home they will come into contact with many different objects.
This contact will cause many of the tiny scales that make up their wings to fall off.
When disturbed, these scales will become an airborne allergen that can cause breathing problems and exacerbate symptoms of other conditions such as asthma.
Dried flakes of fecal matter can also act as an allergen, becoming airborne in a similar manner.
Signs of a Moth Infestation
Left unchecked a moth infestation can do significant damage to your home, destroying valuable items such as natural fibre clothes, rugs, furniture, paintings, and other fabrics.
The earlier that you spot a moth infestation, the better as early action can often save these items and save you an awful lot of stress and anguish.
Unfortunately, due to their fondness for dark spaces, many moth infestations are not reported until it is too late but by looking out for these common early signs of a moth or moth larvae population you will be able to make sure that this is not the case in your home.
Signs of a moth infestation include:
Holes in clothing
Moths are notorious for their taste for natural fibre clothing.
If you see that any of your garments have small, or larger, holes in them with no obvious cause, after sitting in the wardrobe for a period of time, this is almost certainly the work of clothes moths.
The diet of clothes moth species such as the common clothes moth and the case-bearing clothes moths include wool, felts, leather, and fur, meaning any items made from such materials are at risk.
They will not target, man-made materials so your polyester running gear is safe for now, but unfortunately, moths have a penchant for fashion and it is the most expensive items of clothing targeted most often due to their natural fibre composition.
The reason that clothes moths are so fond of human clothing is that the natural fibres of certain materials contain a protein known as keratin which is required by their larvae to grow.
Carpet Damage
If you have a rug or carpet made up of natural animal based products such as wool, fur, or silk, moths are just as likely to target them as they are the clothes in your wardrobe.
If you notice that your carpet is wearing thin in areas where human activity is rare, such as under or behind your sofa, this is a powerful sign that you may be dealing with carpet moths.
For safety reasons, and for easier access to the fibres within, carpet moths favour the hidden less well-trodden fluffier areas of your carpet where they are unlikely to be harmed, so make sure to move your sofas and chairs every-so-often and have a look for eggs, larvae, and blad patched underneath.
Holes in food packaging
Pantry moths will either be brought into your home or attracted to it by dry food sources found in your kitchen cupboards.
Foods that are most appealing to pantry moth species and should be kept the closest eye on include cereals, flour, nuts, and other starch filled products.
If you see small holes in the packaging of any such items, throw them away immediately as the risk of contamination is high.
If you see silk tubes or cocoons inside the packaging this is an even clearer indication that it is indeed moths that you are dealing with.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of other pest species that also have a taste for human food including beetles and other insects, and rodents such as rats and mice.
If you are unable to determine the culprit species and all you have to show for a pest presence is holes in food packaging, the best thing to do is to contact a professional pest controller as soon as possible who will use their expert eye to spot things you may have missed and recommend the best course of action.
Eggs
So far in this guide, we have looked at the damage caused by moths as a sign of their presence.
However, the most obvious and definite indications of moth activity are physical sightings of moths themselves, at various stages of their life cycle.
Spotting moth eggs is pretty much the best case scenario when dealing with a moth infestation as you may be able to eradicate them before they can hatch into larvae and begin their feast on your soft furnishings.
Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, moth eggs are tiny, and it is, therefore, incredibly difficult to spot them, especially given that they are usually found in discreet locations inside collars, under sofas etc.
If you do manage to spot them it is likely during a deep clean, or a stroke of luck but what you are looking for is a cluster of tiny white dots covered in a silk webbing that keeps them attached to the food source they are found on.
Larvae
Due to the damage they cause, most moth infestations are discovered whilst moths are in the larvae stage.
Although they are more commonly referred to as larvae rather than caterpillars, moth larvae behave in a very similar way to butterflies in that they will build a cocoon until such time as they are ready to emerge as a fully grown adult moth.
They tend to do this close to their food source, spending several months feeding on the materials that their eggs were laid on.
This is a significant period of growth for moths so it is at this stage that the vast majority of the damage is done to your fabrics.
The appearance of moth larvae will vary slightly depending on the species in question but in general, they will appear as pale and nearly translucent cream-coloured worms.
These maggot like pests grow to around 10mm in size and create silken tubes to live in.
Pupae
As moths near adulthood they will create pupae, or cocoons, from which they will eventually emerge as fully-fledged adult moths.
It is within this cocoon that metamorphosis occurs, with larvae structure breaking down to allow wings to emerge.
A moth cocoon is covered in silk and dark in colour.
This stage only lasts around 8-10 days on average and given that moths tend to build their pupae in similarly dark secluded places where they lay their eggs if a population has been able to reach the pupae stage you will likely not notice it until adult moths begin to emerge.
Adult moths
Adulthood is a relatively short time for most moth species but it is at this point that there are easiest to spot, for obvious reasons.
Many people are unaware of the fact that adult moths do not actually eat or drink, meaning that they are pretty harmless to you and your home at this point.
However, their only goal in their final form is to locate a mate and, for females, to lay eggs.
This means that spotting adult moths flying around your home could indicate future infestations and should be taken very seriously as a result.
Female moths will die once they have laid their eggs, whilst males tend to do so almost immediately after mating.
If you spot a significant number of adult moths, dead or alive on your property, check nearby for signs of eggs and larvae, or contact a professional pest control service.
Musty smell
If you notice a musty smell coming from your kitchen cupboards or wardrobes there is a chance that if you look closely you may spot the sticky secretion or wedding that is caused by having a moth problem.
How to get rid of moths
The most effective way to rid your home of a moth infestation is to contact a professional pest control expert.
They will have all the expertise and equipment to identify the culprit species, expose the true extent of the infestation, and eradicate it completely once and for all.
However, there are a few things that you can do to make your home much less appealing to moth species.
Here are a few of the very best ways to repel moths and kill moths inside your own property:
Wash your clothes
The first thing to do when you find evidence of an infestation is to make a laundry pile of all affected garments and wash them on as high a heat as the label suggests.
If you are unable to wash clothes at a high heat due to their sensitive nature, dry cleaning can also be effective in insect elimination.
Clothes moths tend to only be attracted to clothes and fabrics made out of natural fibres.
However, although synthetic and cotton fabrics are rarely targeted by moths unless they are blended with silk or wool it is not impossible.
If your synthetic clothing is stained with oil from your skin or food remnants, they may still be attacked so it is vital that you don’t let your laundry pile up for too long, especially during the summer months when moths are most active.
Store clothes properly
As the sun begins to shine a bit more often at the start of the summer, many of us store away our bulky winter clothing for several months at a time.
During the summer months, female wasps are active, looking for the perfect spot to lay their eggs where they won’t be disturbed.
The wooly jumpers stuffed at the back of your wardrobe are just perfect, so it is vital that you store them well out of reach.
To do this, clean clothes carefully before storage and place all garments into tightly sealed plastic storage bags or compression airtight bags until you need them again when temperatures fall.
Use Cedar hangers
Cedar wood is infused with an oil that has fantastic insect-repelling powers and effectively repels moths through scent alone.
Using cedar wood hangers for your clothes can, therefore, be a great way to prevent moths from laying their eggs on them.
The scent of the cedar can wear off over time, however, so make sure to either replace your hangers every so often or buy some cedar oil that can be reapplied to them.
Moth Repellents
As mentioned above, the smell of cedar can be used to repel moths, but it is not the only scent that they despise.
Lavender stored in a small cloth bag and hung up in your wardrobe can have a similar effect, as can a number of other plants and herbs.
One of the best homemade moth repellents you can make involves crushing up a mixture of several fragrant herbs such as lavender, bay leaves, thyme, and cloves, and placing the mixture in bags across your home.
This will not only repel moths but also give off a rather pleasant aroma around your home,
Essential oils or a vinegar and water solution are also effective repellents and can be sprayed directly onto clothes or other effective fabrics.
Moth traps
Another useful way to eliminate the odd moth that you see flying around your home during the summer is to buy some moth traps.
These can be found online or in most supermarkets or hardware stores.
The most effective of these are probably scent traps.
Moth traps mimic the pheromones that attract moths to their mates but this only entices adult male moths.
Unfortunately, pheromone traps are pretty ineffective in eliminating an entire infestation.
Sure, the sticky trap will kill the adult moth but the key to resolving moth problems once and for all lies in eliminating eggs and larvae, and moth traps do little in this regard.
Moth balls
A classic. Moth balls placed in wardrobes, or kitchen cupboards will kill eggs, larvae, and fully grown moths.
Moth balls will last up to 3 months before the need to be replaced.
Use a moth killing spray
Another shop-bought anti-most option is moth killing sprays.
Use this anywhere that you have seen or suspect moth activity such as carpets, cupboards, and skirting boards.
Be sure to keep children and pets well away from the area when applying this spray.
These sprays will kill moth larvae or other fabric pests instantly upon impact.
Store food correctly
Pantry moths can hide in cardboard boxes and feed on their contents so try to store all your food in plastic containers.
Airtight containers will not only keep your food lovely and fresh and prevent it from going stale but also prevent any nasty insects from getting inside.
Vacuum regularly
Vacuuming should be conducted as part of every thorough cleaning as both a pest prevention measure and as part of general hygiene maintenance.
Moths are well known for laying eggs in discreet areas of your carpet underneath furniture or similar so make sure to move these aside and use your vacuum cleaner on patches that would otherwise have been missed,
This will remove any eggs, casings, or larvae in the area so make sure to dispose of the debris within your vacuum shortly after cleaning.
Contact a Pest Control Expert
If you constantly see moths flying around inside your home all year round without an obvious source it is probably too late for natural remedies to be effective.
According to the BPCA, the British Pest Control Association, it is always recommended that you contact a professional to remove a moth infestation,
Not only are they fully trained in moth identification so will be able to swiftly create the ideal extermination plan but they also have access to the latest and most effective insecticides and pest control tools that cannot be bought by members of the public.
Commercial Moth Control
It is not just domestic homes that are threatened by moths and commercial premises should pay particular attention to any visible damage caused by fabric pests.
For any business, finding a pest infestation, even one that does not pose a direct threat to nearby humans, can lead to significant reputation damage.
For this reason, it is a good idea to have a contract in place with a professional pest control firm that will respond rapidly to any pest related alerts to resolve the problem.
For museums, carpet retailers, collectors, and any other businesses involved in the sale or showing of animal products, moths pose a more significant threat.
In the larvae stage moths will feed on natural fibres, fur, and any other animal based materials.
This can include extremely valuable ancient artifacts and for this reason carpet moths are considered the number one pest related threat to museums across the globe.
If you work in this industry and have seen any potential signs of moth damage, or simply want to have your site examined to make sure that you are taking all the appropriate steps to avoid moth activity in the future, get in touch with Clark Pest Control today and our expert team will be delighted to help.
Professional Moth Removal
It is always best to use professional pest control when dealing with an infestation of any kind, and moths are no different.
A professional pest controller will use all their knowledge and experience to design an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan detailing the eradication of all pests on the site.
When carrying out an IPM a professional pest controller will use chemical insecticides to eliminate existing moths as well as provide invaluable advice on the best ways to prevent moths from moving back in in the future.
If you have a large infestation, fumigation may be required and your chosen pest expert will likely need to perform several visits before they are satisfied that control has been achieved.
Contact Clark Pest Control
If you have seen any of the signs of moth activity seen in this article, it is time to get in touch with the insect control experts at Clark Pest Control.
We are based in Edinburgh but have customers all across Scotland, with no location too remote, large, or small for us to handle.
Our BPCA accredited pest controllers are equipped with all the latest pest control techniques, traps, and technologies needed to keep domestic and commercial properties across the country pest free all year long.
Call us at 0800 808 5615 to chat with a member of our expert team, organise a pest control treatment, or have a professional assess your property.
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