What kinds of moths eat wool. Although most moths do not eat anything due to the fact that they have no mouths they survive on the food they store during hibernation and from the energy created in the larval stage. Here are some common species and their preferred materials. They lay their eggs on animal fibers like wool which when the eggs hatch serve as sources of food for the larvae. Well go over a few different types of moths and what they like to eat.
Keep all wool clean. Clothes moths are often confused with indian meal moths but the two are actually very different primarily in the materials on which they feed and the places they are foundindian meal moths are pantry pests while clothes mothsas their name indicatesfeed on fabrics. 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. Moths also will feed on silk fur leather wool and silk clothing.
Both insects lay eggs in secluded spots with plenty of food wool fur down shed pet dander and other animal based materials. Moths are nocturnal insects. Store wools usually have an anti moth treatment which your fresh fleece and hand spun wools. They prefer to live in dark places like your closet.
Moths are destructive no doubt but they dont actually eat your clothestheir babies do. Herrich schaeffer when he established tineola. Adult moths will usually eat animal based products. They are often mistaken for grain moths infesting stored food items in kitchens and pantries.
Front line wool moth defence one. Wool moths clothes moths closet moths cocoon moths there are lots of different names for a couple of different varieties of these destructive little insects. Clothes moths and carpet beetles the latter being more prevalent than moths in most areas of the country. Two types of moths are known to plague wool silk cashmere and other textile items.
Carpet beetles are very different in appearance but can cause every bit as much devastation. There are many different types of moths that eat clothes. Even pantry moths like indian meal moths will eat wool if its available to them. Webbing clothes moths and casemaking clothes moths.
The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella for example by g. Read on for more information on clothes moths their identification the difference from stored food moths the damage. Wool moths will sample merino before other wool breeds too. Damage to woolens is actually done by the larvae of two types of insects.
This month is a tiny golden moth that spans about in length for their. 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. Unlike some other types of moths clothes moths are seldom seen because they avoid light.