Published On - 1st March 2022
Patrick Kozlowsky Moths
Do you know how you detect a fire by seeing smoke first? The same goes for a moth infestation. If you see a lonely moth roaming around your house, then its friends must be nearby.
And since having insects around is both annoying and unsanitary, you should know what they’re seeking in your house. That’s what we’re here for!
In this article, we’ll tell you all about what attracts moths in the house and how to get rid of them. So without further ado, let’s jump in!
As most people believe, moths seek the light, so they might enter your house if you have your lights on. However, this is only partially true. Moths might get attracted to outdoor lights at night, but when they’re inside your house, light is the least of their worries.
There are many types of moths that can infest your house. For example, you might find clothes moths or pantry moths. Here’s a brief roundup about the two types.
Pantry Moths
After moths get attracted to your outdoor lights and enter your house, their first route will most probably be your pantry. They get attracted to bread, flour, cereal, dried nuts, processed products, and pasta.
Since they have an excellent sense of smell, they can reach your cabinets within such a short time and infest the place. Some pantry moths are referred to as Indian meal moths. Those who prefer dry foods and can chew through containers to reach their goal.
If you notice a large number of moths in your pantry without knowing where they came from, there are likely breeding pairs. When adult moths enter your pantry and feed, they start laying eggs. When those eggs hatch, larvae come out and start feeding on more food.
Clothes Moths
Unlike other moths, clothes moths don’t seek the light. Instead, they might enter your house at night when it’s dark. And while they don’t pose a risk to the human’s health, we can’t say the same for fabrics and clothes. Clothes moths can chew into your clothes made of fur, silk, and wool, and leave haunting holes behind.
While there’s a common misconception that adult moths are the ones that eat fabric, it’s actually the larvae. However, they don’t normally get attracted to clean clothes. For instance, they might feed on clothes stained with sweat, food, or urine. There are two types of clothes moths that you can see in your house: case-making clothes and webbing moths.
Webbing Moths
Webbing moths are the most common type of clothes moths. They have yellow, 12-millimeter long bodies, and you can characterise them by the reddish hairs on their heads.
When webbing moths lay eggs in the summer, they hatch in about ten days. However, when they do it in the winter, it might take the eggs up to two or three weeks. Also, they love feeding on clothes made of wool.
Casemaking Clothes Moths
Casemaking clothes moths mostly have the same habits as webbing moths, but they prefer silk clothes. However, they differ slightly in appearance. Casemaking clothes moth have brownish-gray bodies with dark-colored spots. Also, they leave droppings behind when they feed.
How to Get Rid of Moths: 5 Essential Steps
After telling you why moths enter your house and the types you should expect, it’s time to tell you how to get rid of them. Here are the steps you should follow.
1. Vacuum Your Carpets and Floors Regularly
When dust builds up in your house, it can attract more moths. So ideally, you should keep your floors and carpets clean all the time to avoid worsening the infestation.
2. Wash Infested Clothes
If you find moths in your wardrobe you should wash all the infested clothes. First, you should wash them on a high-temperature cycle. Then, throw them in the dryer on a high heat option. This will ensure that both eggs and larvae die. As a result, the number of moths in your clothes won’t be increasing anymore.
Some people freeze the clothes for 24 hours first to make sure any moth eggs are killed. Although this isn’t convenient for everybody, it comes in handy for clothes that shouldn’t be washed in hot water.
3. Set Traps
There are two tricks you can use to catch moths in your house. The first one is using sticky tape and spraying it with moth pheromones. The moths will get attracted to the tape and once they are on it they won’t be able to fly away. As a result of moth control they’ll die after a short while. Another option you can try out is using fish oil and fly paper. You can use this trap anywhere in your home. So if you have moths in both your pantry and wardrobe, use them in both places.
4. Use Herbs
Interestingly, moths hate the smell of herbs, and it deters them. Accordingly, you can combine a group of dried herbs in a plastic bag and hang it where you find moths in your house. You can do this in your pantry, wardrobe, suitcase, and more. As an alternative, you can use essential oils. Simply dilute some oil in a spray bottle and spray it on your kitchen surfaces and personal belongings. You can also use a diffuser instead of this hassle.
5. Spray Cedar
Moths hate how cedar tastes and won’t get anywhere near it. To get rid of them, you can dilute cedar oil with water and put it in a spray bottle. Next, spray it on your clothes and in your kitchen pantry. Some people also use cedar hangers in their houses to repulse moths, but their smell wear out fast.
To Wrap Up
Moths can get attracted to your outdoor lights, and once that happens, they can enter and wreak havoc in your kitchen pantry and wardrobe. They mostly only get attracted to food and worn out clothes. To keep them away, you should keep your house clean and wash your clothes regularly with hot water.
Author
Patrick Kozlowsky
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I am an expert in pest control and household insect infestations, with a demonstrable depth of knowledge on the topic. My expertise is grounded in years of hands-on experience and continuous research in the field. I have successfully dealt with various types of insect infestations, including moths, and possess a comprehensive understanding of their behavior, habits, and effective control methods.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article on moth infestations:
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Moth Types:
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Pantry Moths:
- Attracted to outdoor lights and may infest pantries.
- Prefer dry foods like bread, flour, cereal, nuts, and pasta.
- Indian meal moths are a common type.
- Lay eggs in food, and larvae feed on stored items.
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Clothes Moths:
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Enter homes at night and do not seek light.
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Pose a risk to fabrics, particularly fur, silk, and wool.
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Larvae, not adult moths, damage clothing.
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Webbing Moths:
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Common type, with yellow bodies and reddish hairs.
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Lay eggs in summer or winter, feeding on wool.
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Casemaking Clothes Moths:
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Prefer silk clothes, with brownish-gray bodies and dark spots.
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Leave droppings when feeding.
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How Moths Enter and Infest:
- Moths may be attracted to outdoor lights but are not concerned with indoor lights.
- Pantry moths enter homes through outdoor lights and infest stored food.
- Clothes moths enter at night and damage fabrics, especially those soiled with sweat, food, or urine.
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Methods to Get Rid of Moths:
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Vacuuming:
- Regularly clean floors and carpets to eliminate dust that attracts moths.
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Washing Infested Clothes:
- Wash infested clothes on high-temperature cycles and use a dryer to kill eggs and larvae.
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Traps:
- Use sticky tape sprayed with moth pheromones or fish oil on fly paper to catch and control moths.
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Herbs:
- Moths dislike the smell of herbs; use dried herbs or essential oils in a spray to deter them.
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Cedar:
- Moths are repelled by cedar; use cedar oil diluted with water as a spray on clothes and in pantries.
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In conclusion, understanding the specific types of moths, their behaviors, and implementing effective control measures such as regular cleaning, washing, trapping, and the use of repellents like herbs and cedar can help effectively manage and eliminate moth infestations in homes.
