Why moths eat clothes

Moth caterpillars will sometimes eat leather and feathers -- and yes, even lint and hairballs of human or pet hair. Thankfully, moth larvae avoid eating synthetic and cotton fabrics unless they're blended with an animal fiber.

That's because synthetic and cotton material doesn't contain keratin. So at least your spandex is safe. The larvae of the clothes moth Tineola bisselliella , also known as the webbing clothes moth, are the most common clothing destroyers. Only two moth species will damage your clothes: The casemaking clothes moth Tinea pellionella and the webbing clothes moth Tineola bisselliella most commonly infest clothing PDF.

Both are about only 1 cm long, and yellow or grayish in color. Moth larvae prefer fibers of animal origin, including wool, mohair, cashmere, fur, and feathers. They are particularly attracted to dark, warm, humid spaces, and dirty clothing especially unwashed items that may have lingering body oils or food residue.

Discard particularly infested items. If the clothing is extremely damaged, it may be impossible to repair. Thoroughly clean the clothes you do keep. Read your labels, though, as many wools will shrink and felt if agitated at such high temperatures. If you have a non-agitating shelf in your dryer, that would be a good alternative for killing moth larvae on woolen clothing.

Clean your closet. Thoroughly vacuum your closet. Moths and larvae love dark corners and crevices. Remove the vacuum bag and discard it outside immediately, because it will probably be full of eggs and larvae. You may also consider using a dry cleaning service or a carpet steamer to do a deep clean of any rugs made of natural fibers. A combination of sunlight and vigorously brushing the infested items can kill moth eggs and larvae.

But this can be dirty work; expect to get grimy and take care not to track eggs or larvae back into your home. Avoid doing this with any clothes that have beadwork or plastic, which can melt. Traulsen kept his clothing in zipper bags in the freezer at its coldest setting for two weeks after discovering his moth infestation. I re-inspect everything. Householders intending to use moth-deterring balls, flakes or crystals should carefully read and follow label directions.

The volatile, odiferous products containing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can be hazardous if used incorrectly. Never scatter them in open closets or other areas where children or pets can reach them. The vapors from these materials are only effective if maintained at sufficient concentrations. Valuable garments such as furs can also be protected from clothes moths by storing them in cold vaults, a service offered by some furriers and department stores. Contrary to popular belief, cedar closets or chests are seldom effective in deterring clothes moths because the seal is insufficient to maintain lethal or repellent concentrations of the volatile oil of cedar.

Detecting Infestations. Museums, rug-dealers, craft shops, furriers and taxidermists have much at stake in preventing clothes moths. Museum artifacts, in particular, can be irreparably harmed by these pests making prevention a necessity. To minimize risk to collections, vulnerable items should be routinely monitored for signs of moth activity. Glue traps provisioned with a pheromone lure are also useful for detecting infestations. The lure mimics the sex pheromone of the female clothes moth and is highly attractive to the males.

The traps are particularly effective at revealing infestations in the early stages when the pests are hard to find by inspection alone.

In large storage or display areas, the devices can be installed in a grid pattern to help pinpoint infested materials, i. Since webbing and casemaking clothes moths each have their own unique pheromone odor, it is important to know which type of moth you have before ordering.

Thermal Disinfestation. Insecticide sprays tend to be of limited use for clothes moths, since the pests are often within materials where sprays cannot penetrate. Risk of contamination and staining further negates their use on museum objects, clothing, etc.

Such items can often be disinfested more effectively utilizing a household, chest, or walk-in freezer. In order to kill clothes moths, infested items need to be held at minimum temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one week. Freezers capable of reaching minus 20 degrees F are able to kill all life stages within 72 hours. Before freezing, articles should be placed in plastic bags, or wrapped in polyethylene sheeting and sealed with tape.

This prevents frost and ice from forming on objects during chilling, and condensation after removal. After freezing, objects should be allowed to return to room temperature for about 24 hours before being unwrapped or further handled. Some items become brittle at low temperatures, and this will help to reduce breakage. If in doubt, please consult your local cooperative extension service or regulatory agency. Please note that content and photos in this publication are copyrighted material and may not be copied or downloaded without permission of the Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky.

Clothes Moths. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Clothes moths are pests that can destroy fabric and other materials.