How do moths get into a house?

Moths often gather around outdoor lighting or windows at nighttime, where they may move inside through small cracks or when doors and windows are opened . However, light does not account for all moth infestations. Once moths get inside, generally lit areas appeal to pantry moths, but clothes moths shy away from light.

What attracts moths into your home?

Food sources that attract moths include wool, natural fibers, leather, feathers, felt, fur, and certain dry goods or pantry items . Most Common Causes of Moths in a Home Include: Food sources - such as wool, silk, leather, or grain items. New construction - homes that were exposed to the open air during the summer ...

Can pest control help with moths?

We can figure out how moths got into the home and will get into the dark corners of closets, attics or basem*nts to find their food source. We will also schedule and provide the right moth treatment for your home. We offer moth extermination that will remove moths and we can help prevent them from coming back .

What is the source of a moth infestation?

The primary source may be a wool scarf or fur/felt hat at the back of a closet, an old rug stored in the basem*nt, or an abandoned bird or squirrel nest up in the attic . Larvae prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas where woolens and other susceptible items are stored for long periods.

How Do Moths Get in Your House? - Environ Pest Control (2024)

Case bearing carpet moths (tinea pellionella) don’t get as much attention as their clothes-eating cousins, but their damage can be just as upsetting and expensive if they find their way into your home.

The main way carpet moths spread from house to house is through their microscopic eggs being picked up on our shoes. Simply taking off your shoes before entering the main part of your house goes a long way topreventing carpet moth infestation.

When we go out to treat a carpet moth infestation, we often discover pigeons roosting or nesting on the house. Bird nests are the natural habitat of the carpet moth, where they feed on keratin in bird feathers. Wherever pigeons go, carpet moths follow.

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How quickly do carpet moths breed?

In their natural habitat, carpet moths can breed one or two generations a year and are dormant in winter. However, in our warm, central-heated homes, they’re active year round, reaching three to four generations which are also larger in size.

How can I tell if I have carpet moths?

Carpet moth eggs are so small you won’t notice them, but their larvae are easily identified due to the case they carry around, which gives them their common name. If you spot a tiny grub wrapped in a woven case dragging itself around, you’ve got carpet moths.

When they’ve had their fill of your belongings, the larvae seal this case at both ends, creating a fuzzy parcel the size of a grain of rice in which they pupate into adult moths.

The adults are dull grey and tiny, with a wingspan of only 15-17mm. Most the time they won’t be flying though: females barely fly at all and males flutter just above the floor – another reason they can go unseen for so long.

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If you’ve spotted a carpet moth or have noticed damage to your carpets, you can book a completely free, no-obligation survey from one of our BPCA-certified pest experts.

We’ll identify exactly what pests are causing the damage and tell you what it will cost you to get rid of them. Book your free survey now by calling our friendly customer service team or request your call back.

4 Carpet Moth Prevention Tips

Carpet moth eggs are microscopic and easily transported on your shoes. Wiping your feet and not wearing shoes indoors reduces risk of infestation.
Remove birds nests from your home. They’re the natural habitat for carpet moths, which can then make their way inside.
The best way to keep carpet moths under control is regular, thorough hoovering, especially in dark, forgotten areas behind sofas.
Clothes moths and carpet moths breed in the same conditions and feed on the same materials. If you have one, it’s likely you have the other.

Here are some other helpful articles about Moths

How to Get Rid of Clothes MothsWant to find out how clothes moths infest your home and how to eradicate them? Click here for expert advice from Environ Pest Control, London’s trusted authority on clothes moths.

Why Do I Have Moths in My Carpet?Despite their name, clothes moths are more likely to be found in your carpets. Find out why moths prefer carpet and what you can do reduce risk of infestation.

How to Prevent a Moth InfestationIt’s much better to prevent a clothes moth infestation than have to treat one.

Do Moth Traps Work?Moth traps are very good at killing moths, but that doesn’t help as much as you might think.

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