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Clothes Moths
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Please Read: This site contains information about using pesticides. Pesticides can be dangerous if used improperly or carelessly. Always follow label instructions. The pesticide product label is the final word on the safe and legal use of pesticides. Questions about pesticide toxicity can be explored at the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). Control suggestions are intended for users in the state of Oregon, USA. Others should consult with local experts before relying solely on this information. |
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| Adult moth. Note fringe of hair on head and wings. |
| Larvae of the clothes moth feed on wool, hair or fur, and feathers. The adult moth is less than 1/2 inch long, yellowish, tan, or golden colored with a fringe of long hairs around the wings. These moths are not attracted to lights but often seek dark places when disturbed; this is why you may not see them inside the closet when you open the doors. Eggs are laid on fabric where developing larvae feed and cause damage. Fully grown larvae are generally less than 1/2" long and shiny white. The time it takes a larva to reach maturity varies widely, depending on food source, temperature and humidity. It can be as little as 1-1/2 months to as long as 2-1/2 years! Soiled cloth is much more likely to be infested. The very best treatment is prevention. Do not store clothes that have been worn. Dry cleaning is the most effective method for removing eggs and larvae. Store clean clothes in plastic bags or boxes. Be suspicious of imported wool textiles - have them dry cleaned before you bring them home. Infested drawers and closets should be completely emptied, all wool articles dry cleaned, other, non-wool articles washed, and the area wiped down with a household cleaner. Moth balls are made from one of two chemicals, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both chemicals act as fumigants and must be present in high concentration to be effective - and this is the problem. Concentrations high enough to be effective are toxic to you as well. For this reason I don't generally suggest using "moth balls" of any kind, except in the special circumstance of long-term storage of especially valuable textiles. If you do decide to use them, however, be sure to carefully air-out or dry clean articles when you remove them from storage. And finally, cedar oils, at concentrations present in most cedar chests, have almost no value as moth repellents. The value of a cedar chest is in the fact that the chest is tightly closed, thus preventing exposure to moths or beetles. So enjoy the aroma of your cedar chest but don't expect it to chase away any bugs! |
| Useful Links |
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National Pesticide Information Center Iowa State University Entomology Internet Resources OSU Extension & Experiment Station Communications (Publications) |
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Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Contact: Neil Bell, Community Horticulturalist, OSU Extension Service, 3180 Center Street NE Room 1361, Salem, OR 97301; 503-361-2671; e-mail: neil.bell@oregonstate.edu or contact: Jack DeAngelis, Extension Entomologist (ret.) at getinfo@livingwithbugs.com. Copyright 2005 Oregon State University Disclaimer |
