What to do if moths are eating your clothes. Remember it is the clothes moth larvae that hatch from the eggs that do the damage to your clothes adult flying clothes moths do not eat but if they are able to mate the females then lay hundreds of eggs in their short lifetime. Do moths eat clothes. Do moths eat clothes. It might come as a surprise to learn that the moth itself does not eat clothes and cause the damage but the moths larvae.
The adult moths are very small and are rarely seen. Both are members of the family tineidae bisselliella. Adult moths lack the mouthparts needed to eat your clothing lint. The tineola bisselliella or clothes moths and the tinea pellionella or casemaking clothes moth are two such species.
Eggs hatch into larvae and larvae pupate into clothes moths. These moths are generally 1 to 2 inches wide and light golden brown in color. If you have allergies moths can be a nuisance to. There are primarily only two species of moths that damage clothes in the usthe webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth.
Moths arent the most harmful pest you can find in your household but they can cause plenty of damage to clothes food and other belongings. Only two moth species will damage your clothes. Tineola bisselliella commonly called the webbing clothes moth is the most recognized moth for destroying clothing. If you see a worm like insect with a hard shell on your clothes it is the larva of the case bearing clothes moth.
There are a few varieties you may discover munching on the natural fibers found in woolen clothing and soft cashmere. Moths are destructive no doubt but they dont actually eat your clothestheir babies do. Unlike most moths webbing clothes moths do not like light and will often hide in closets undiscovered until a piece of clothing is damaged. 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.
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 larvae feed on natural fibres such as cashmere.