What Do Clothes Moths Eat Uk

They hatch within a few weeks of being laid.

What do clothes moths eat uk. It might come as a surprise to learn that the moth itself does not eat clothes and cause the damage but the moths larvae. Tineola bisselliella known as the common clothes moth webbing clothes moth or simply clothing moth is a species of fungus moth family tineidae subfamily tineinaeit is the type species of its genus tineola and was first described by arvid david hummel in 1823. Adult clothes moths actually do no damage when feeding. They then begin to eat the fibres in the material which causes holes in clothes or loss of pile in patches on carpets.

How do they cause damage. Inspect all the items that include natural fibres. The larvae that hatch from the eggs of clothes moths spin silk webbing into a tunnel across the attacked material. Freeze any clothes or belongings that show signs of moths.

Look out for the brown house moth 8mm long with bronze black flecked wings and the common clothes moth 6 7mm long with paler beige wings. Herrich schaeffer when he established tineola. Moths dont eat clothes. This will help you formulate your clothes moth eradication plan.

Where to check for clothes moths. Setting traps and killing clothes moths could be the best way to getting rid of the insects for good. When they first hatch theyre only a millimetre long and they burrow into your clothes so you don. Keep these items in the freezer for at least 24 hours to make sure any larvae are killed off.

Moths are often called textile pests but as mentioned its not the moths who eat clothes but rather the larvae or caterpillars. Wash clothes that contain larvae or eggs. There are plenty of things in our homes for clothes moth larvae to feast on. Besides the usual plants and leaves larvae are very fond of fibers in clothes.

Do moths eat clothes. If they lay their eggs in your home the larvae that. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella for example by g. Two species the case making clothes moth tinea pellionella and the webbing clothes moth tineola biselliell.

The pests are apparently chomping through knits in millions of uk homes so here is your quick g. Understanding what clothes moths eat will help you to go through your entire home and find the likely hiding places bearing in mind there could be more than one.