What sort of moths eat clothes. A weak flier it seldom leaves dark areas. Both of these species are known to eat natural cloth fibers found in clothes curtains carpets bedsheet and upholstery. The specific name is commonly misspelled biselliella for example by g. Check to see which one sounds like the one you have.
A weak flier it seldom leaves dark areas. Herrich schaeffer when he established tineola. 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. Clothes moths and carpet beetles the latter being more prevalent than moths in most areas of the country.
This month is a tiny golden moth that spans about in length for their wingspan. Adult moths are no danger to wool cashmere or mohair clothes but the larvae can be detrimental as they feed and cut holes in clothes. Theyre very bad at flying and tend to stay in the dark such as dressers and wardrobes. However if there does not seem to be any animal fiber in the cotton cloth then the moth larvae will not eat your cotton fabrics but this is only if the garment is 100.
These moths are generally 1 to 2 inches wide and light golden brown in color. There are primarily only two species of moths that damage clothes in the usthe webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth. There are many different types of moths that eat clothes. Two species the case making clothes moth tinea pellionella and the webbing clothes moth tineola biselliell are famous fabric eaters.
Besides the usual plants and leaves larvae are very fond of fibers in clothes. Tineola bisselliella commonly called the webbing clothes moth is the most recognized moth for destroying clothing. Clothes moths dont like light and are so secretive that youll probably never see them. Instead it is the voracious appetite of the moth larvae doing the feeding.
Damage to woolens is actually done by the larvae of two types of insects. Many people are under the impression that the adult moths named above are the culprits when it comes to the holes in cashmere cardigans or wool jackets. Moths are destructive no doubt but they dont actually eat your clothestheir babies do. Whats more the adult moths wont do any harm.
The webbing clothes moth tineola bissellielle is a small pale gold moth with a wingspan of about 12 inch. 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 moths lack the mouthparts needed to eat your clothing lint.