What are Clothes Moths?

Clothes moths belong to a family of Lepidoptera that are called the Tineidae. They are small, narrow-shaped moths whose larvae feed on keratin, the protein that is found within animal fibres such as fur, wool, feathers, silk, and even leather.  

As such, Clothes moths, which in nature could be regarded as detritivores, consume and recycle dead animal matter.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in them becoming a household pest that can infest houses where their larvae feed on keratin-based clothing, furnishings and fabrics.

However, there are just two species of Clothes moths that are usually found in Britain’s homes. The common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), a gold-coloured moth whose larvae spin and live within a mass of tangled webbing, and the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella), a silvery-brown moth whose larvae create silken tubes that they carry around and live within.

Both these species could potentially be present in a house at the same time throughout the year.

The first indication of a clothes moth infestation will usually be when the adult moths are seen clinging to a wall in a dark room.  

However, adult clothes moths are non-feeding species and only live long enough to mate and for the females to lay around two hundred pin-head-sized eggs on any natural fibres that they’ll be attracted to.  But although it’s assumed that woolly garments in draws and wardrobes make the ideal egg-laying site for clothes moths, they are less attractive to the moths than a damp area of an old grimy carpet.

Around a week after being laid, the eggs will hatch into tiny larvae that feed on the natural fibres for up to two years before pupating.  Finally emerging as the next generation of adult clothes moths two to ten weeks later.

Controlling Clothes Moths

During recent years, clothes moth infestations have become much more common in Britain as the traditionally used insecticides to control them are no longer available.

Non-toxic methods, such as using certain aromatic plant oils, have been shown to repel moths, as well as maintaining a rigorous cleaning and vacuuming regime in the rooms where clothes moths are found, regularly checking carpets and clothing for feeding damage and the presence of larvae and their webbing. 

If found, infested areas of carpet could be steam cleaned or treated with a proprietary spray that has been approved for use within homes. And if infested garments are found, then these should be bagged and disposed of if badly damaged, or frozen in a freezer for forty-eight hours before cleaning.  These could then be stored in air-tight bags, or alongside a fragrant bouquet of Cedarwood or Lavender flowers.