Do Clothes Moths Eat Down

Adult moths lack the mouthparts needed to eat your clothing lint.

Do clothes moths eat down. Both types of moths eat natural fibers found in clothing carpet drapes upholstery and bedding. The larvae that hatch from the eggs of clothes moths spin silk webbing into a tunnel across the attacked material. Why do moths eat clothes. And boy do those things have an appetite.

The eggs are attached to the fiber with special adhesives and are very tiny which is why it is difficult to identify within that period. Most insects cannot consume process or digest keratin. They then begin to eat the fibres in the material which causes holes in clothes or loss of pile in patches on carpets. There are only two types of moth larvae that have the ability to digest the fibers that clothing is made from.

Contrary to popular belief moths arent just drawn to light. The full list of things clothes moth larvae can eat is pretty insane basically they can eat and survive on virtually any natural fibre. When those eggs hatch the larvae or caterpillars of the moths devour clothing. Instead it is the voracious appetite of the moth larvae doing the feeding.

Among other things it features chemical weapons smoke bombs and armies of tiny parasitic wasps. Theyve been known to eat wool cashmere silk cotton linen fur feathers hair lint carpets the bristles of brushes pet fur and even dust. Adult moths do not only flutter near the food source to eat but also to mate. Higher keratin content in a particular material makes that material tougher and stronger.

The tineola bisselliella or clothes moths and the tinea pellionella or casemaking clothes moth are two such species. Moths themselves do not eat clothing. According to blake newton an extension entomologist at the university of kentucky moths lay eggs on fabrics caterpillars hatch from those eggs and then the caterpillars munch on the clothing. The webbing clothes moth tineola bisselliell and casemaking clothes moth tinea pellionella.

In houses up and down the country there is a war being waged against clothes moths. A female moth flutters about and finds a spot suitable to lay eggs. What do moths eat. Scroll down to read our top tips on preventing clothes moth infestations.

After mating the female moth lays about 40 to 50 eggs over a period of several weeks on fabric materials. Keratin makes up the majority of human hair and nails. In fact they will seek out dark undisturbed places to lay their eggs such as the back of your wardrobe or seldom. Moths are destructive no doubt but they dont actually eat your clothestheir babies do.