Clothes Moths
Tineidae
General Information
The larvae of clothes moths feed on cloth fibers, leaving small holes in your fabrics. Their favorite meals include animal-based fibers like silk, wool, cashmere, angora, and fur. Help safeguard your family’s clothes from these fabric-feasting pests with easy tips for how to banish moths in the closet.
- Clothes moths are sometimes called closet moths or wool moths.
- Unlike most moths, clothes moths are not attracted to light.
- They are very weak fliers, so they are more commonly seen crawling across garments and the other items they infest.
- A female may deposit 100 to 300 moth eggs. The eggs take 1 to 2 weeks to hatch into the larval stage during the summer or in a heated room. 1
- It is the moth larvae, not the adult moths, that eat and destroy fabrics.
- Moth larvae produce visible silk casings or webbing as they feed.
Size
Color
Bite or Sting
Wings
Commonly mistaken for
Additional details
- Clothes moths will infest clothing and other stored fabrics that are made of any natural fibers or fiber blends.
- They are most commonly found in closets, dresser drawers, attics, basements, and other areas where garments are stored.
- Clothes moths come inside to feed on fabrics that are made of silk, wool, cashmere, angora, and fur.
- Clothes moths will feed on cloth fibers and leave small holes in your fabrics.
- Keep clothes brushed and cleaned, especially items that will be stored for any length of time.
- Clean fabrics stained with food or perspiration before storing them because these items are attacked by clothes moths most often.
- Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove woolen lint or hair from floors, shelves, and drawers.
- Clothing bags, cedar closets, and cedar chests provide protection only when stored materials are air-tight and free from infestation before storage begins.
- Look for clothes moths in the folds of your clothing as well as dark corners of the closet.
Solutions for Clothes Moths
Raid® Multi Insect Killer Odourless kills flying and crawling insects fast. Its odourless formulation makes it suitable for use in and around the home while delivering effective insect control. A dual-purpose aerosol designed to provide effective control across multiple pest types, offering a convenient single solution for indoor environments.
Highlights
- Fast killing action on contact
- Effective against flying and crawling insects
- Odourless formulation for indoor use
- Suitable for use in and around the home
Raid® Essentials Multi Insect Killer is designed to kill flying and crawling insects on contact. Its water-based, odourless formula delivers effective pest control without the irritating smell of kerosene or leaving an oily film, making it suitable for use in and around the home. Designed for use across multiple surfaces including carpets, draperies, no-wax floors, and outdoor areas such as gardens, terraces, and backyards, providing versatile insect control for everyday use.
Highlights
- Kills flying and crawling insects on contact.
- Water-based formulation.
- Odourless with no irritating kerosene smell.
- Leaves no oily film.
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
- May be sprayed onto plants and flowers; avoid over-saturation and test on a leaf first
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