What do moth eaten clothes look like. Unlike most moths webbing clothes moths do not like light and will often hide in closets undiscovered until a piece of clothing is damaged. Tineola bisselliella commonly called the webbing clothes moth is the most recognized moth for destroying clothing. The holes you find in your clothes are actually from hungry baby moths eager to fill up. The clothes moth in there with a few beetles are breaking down wool and fur and things like that.
Clothes moth life cycle clothes moths like many insects go through a full metamorphosis from egg to larva to pupa cocoon and finally to flying adults. It is the larvae which hatch from the sticky eggs that eat wool hair fur or feathers. Tinea pellionella is another. There are a few varieties you may discover munching on the natural fibers found in woolen clothing and soft cashmere.
The larvae are so small that if you dont know what to look for you could easily miss them. Adult clothes moths actually do no damage when feeding. Clothes moths have an average life cycle of between 60 and 90 days and during this lifespan females can lay around 50 eggs. They are only about a quarter to one half inch long and leave white stringy trails similar to a cobweb.
Their larvae do however and they like to feed on the natural fibers of your wardrobe. A female moth lays a mass of fertilized eggs that can range from 50 to 1000 eggs onto a piece of clothing or on host plants. What do they look like. House and home human interest.
The tineola bisselliella or clothes moths and the tinea pellionella or casemaking clothes moth are two such species. Theyre causing their share of biodegradability topics. These clothing are usually those that the female moth thinks are suitable for her offspring. Do moths eat clothes.
The adult casemaking and webbing clothes moths dont damage your clothes at all. Adult moths lack the mouthparts needed to eat your clothing lint. But heres the thing. Moths do eat clothes but not in their adult stage.