Case Making Cloths Moth Information
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Cloths Moth (Tinea pellionella)
Introduction
Clothes moths are common pests of woollen clothing, felt, rugs, carpets, blankets, upholstered furniture, furs, and similar organic materials that contain Keratin, an animal protein. Clothes moths will damage cotton, linen, silk, and synthetic fibres and paper if the items are soiled with sweat, urine, beer, tomato juice, milk, soft drinks, or other substances that provide for their nutritional needs. In fact, newly hatched clothes moth larvae cannot survive on clean wool, but require nutritional supplements found in soilage. Only the larval stage is responsible for damage, because the adults lack functional mouthparts.
Description
The webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) and the case-making clothes moth, Tinea pellionella (L.) are the two major moths damaging fabrics in North America. Adults of both species are similar, except the case-making clothes moth has three dark spots on each wing. These spots, however, may be rubbed off. Clothes moth adults are small (less than ½-inch wingspan or ¼-inch long when wings are folded), golden or yellowish in colour, and have narrow wings fringed with long hairs. Angoumois grain moth and Indian meal moths are frequently mistaken for clothes moths. Clothes moths, however, are seldom seen because they are secretive and avoid light.
Webbing clothes moth larvae are ½-inch long when mature and are clear to creamy white with light brown heads. They usually can be found in association with patches of silken webbing or in feeding tubes, which they spin, incorporating pieces of fabric and feces.
Case making clothes moth larvae are small with dark heads. Their first thoracic segment also is dark. They build and live within portable silk cases that they carry.
Inspection
Adults generally are not seen, but occasionally are observed in darkened rooms or when entering rooms at night. Pheromone traps can be used to detect active clothes moth infestations. Signs include furrows or holes in fabric with frass, silken webbing, or cigar-shaped cases. Use a flashlight and nail file or similar object to check for larvae in woollen lint and hair under baseboards, under furniture, in air ducts, around the edges of carpets, or in stored clothing.
Control
If an infestation is found, destroy or discard badly infested material. Vacuum debris and destroy the bag and its contents to prevent re-infestation or transporting the insects to another location. Light infestations in carpets, rugs, and furniture can be treated with certain formulations of pyrethrins and pyrethroids.
If the infestation is large, the items are expensive, or you are confused about what methods should be used to control a clothes moth infestation, consider contacting a commercial pest control operator. They have the knowledge and technology to combat clothes moth problems more effectively than the average homeowner.
We are able to provide a FREE no-obligation quote over the phone or by E-Mail. Simply Call Us at 647-520-3987.
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