HOW TO GET RID OF MOTH LARVAE (2024)

FAQs

HOW TO GET RID OF MOTH LARVAE? ›

Launder All Clothes – To eliminate most of the larvae and moths lingering in your home, put all your clothes through the laundry on high heat. Those high temperatures will kill any moths and their young. Freeze Fabric – Some fabric simply cannot be washed.

Things that kill moth eggs and larvae include: Extreme temperatures (like freezing them in a freezer for 72 hours) Hot soapy water. Residual moth sprays.

Moths can come into your house through food or fabric items that are contaminated with eggs or larvae. These items are usually unwittingly carried in from the outside. Used furniture, clothing, and rolls of carpet are common hiding places for moth larvae or eggs.

So to get rid of a moth infestation, you would need to hammer all stages for at least four to five weeks to break the life cycle. If an infestation is already well established, you may need more visits or consider a full moth heat treatment that is more powerful.

Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.

Use herbs or essential oils.

Moths, like many insects, simply can't stand the smell of some of the most aromatic herbs, like mint, lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Use this to your advantage to create natural moth repellents in your home.

Use the light-and-dish soap method: Blogger Merissa Alink of Little House Living created a DIY trap to rid her home of the plant-eating miller moths, also known as "army cutworms." She combined water and dish soap in a bowl, then placed it under a light (in her case, under the stove light).

Year-Round Proactive Measures. Weekly use of a high-powered vacuum on carpets and quick cleanup of spills can reduce the chance that moths can find your best clothes and bedding. Vacuuming removes moth larvae from carpets before they have the opportunity to hatch.

Air, heat, or freeze items you don't dry-clean or wash. 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.

There are many telltale signs of a moth infestation. To find the most infested areas in your home, look for larval casings and dead moths nearby. If you notice these signs and have determined that you likely have a moth infestation in your home, uncovering its source is the first thing to do.

How do you find where moths are coming from? ›

If you notice moths in your house and don't know where they are coming from, you may want to check your attic, garage, or pantry. Moths also sometimes live underneath carpets or inside of walls. If you see many small moths fluttering about, it might be time to go through your pantry goods.

Be sure to empty vacuum contents and wash dusting cloths regularly so that eggs and larvae don't grow and develop. Freeze any clothes or belongings that show signs of moths. Keep these items in the freezer for at least 24 hours to make sure any larvae are killed off. Wash clothes that contain larvae or eggs.

Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that Irish Spring soap specifically keeps bugs away.

Permethrin, for example, is a very effective mothproofing insecticide that kills moth larvae and other insects, but it is safe to people and animals. The moth larvae eat the permethrin, which attacks their nerve system and causes them to die almost instantly.

Vinegar is a fantastic natural moth-killing option because its acidity makes it capable of killing moth eggs and removing lingering pheromones. You can also safely spray a vinegar and water solution on most fabrics, although you might want to do a spot test first to make sure that any fabric dyes will not be affected.

Residual moth sprays can be incredibly effective for killing moth larvae and eggs. You can also kill moth larvae and eggs using hot soapy water or by freezing them for at least 72 hours. Things that kill moth eggs and larvae include: Extreme temperatures (like freezing them in a freezer for 72 hours)

“Not only do birds and bats consume moths at every stage of the insects' life cycle, so do lizards, small rodents, skunks and even bears,” Mizejewski says. Other insects, including hornets and ants, prey on moth caterpillars, and both spiders and beetles feed on moth pupae tucked away in their cocoons.