Webbing Clothes Moth Facts & Information
Protect your home or business from webbing clothes moths by learning techniques for identification and control.
Treatment
How do I get rid of webbing clothes moths?
What You Can Do
A variety of methods may be employed to eliminate these clothes moths, although prevention is the best strategy. Dry cleaning or laundering helps make clothing less attractive to moths. Proper storage may also prove effective in keeping clothes moths away.
What Orkin Does
Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage webbing clothes moths and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique moth treatment program for your situation.
Orkin can provide the right solution to keep webbing clothes moths in their place and out of your home or business.
Behavior, Diet & Habits
Understanding Webbing Clothes Moths
Appearance
Clothes moths should not be confused with food infesting moths, which are much larger in size. Adult webbing clothes moths measure approximately 12 mm from wingtip to wingtip. They are yellow in color, with a distinctive sheen and reddish-gold hairs atop their heads.
Behavior
The webbing clothes moth consumes wool, fur, silk and hair. If left untreated, webbing clothes moth infestations can decimate entire wardrobes, as well as the bedding and furniture of affected homes. Identifying the moth is the first step in halting its destructive behavior.
Clothes moths prefer the cover of darkness and do not typically fly to lights. Food moths are attracted to light. Most visible specimens are males, as females are weak fliers and prefer to hop or run. Female clothes moths tend to die soon after laying eggs, which are attached to their preferred fabrics. These eggs hatch within 10 days in summer but may take up to three weeks to develop in winter months. Resulting larvae are responsible for damage caused to clothing.