Protect Your Clothes From Moths
When asked about pests in the home, moths are not the first thought. . However, moths can be problematic for any household. The most damaging is the common clothes moth. Knowing how to get rid of these pests can seem quite daunting.
. These creatures are lovers of moist conditions and the dark. The male moth spends its time searching for a mate. The female moth rarely flies and prefers to run or hop about. Tiny 1mm eggs are laid in secret places to keep them safe. As the eggs are so small, a glue like substance is used to attach them to a surface until hatching takes place. The clothes moth infestation happens because the eggs are almost impossible to see.
The larvae can feed on your clothing as they turn the keratin in the fibres into food. Water content is important as the larvae cannot drink. This is why they are attracted to dirty clothes that contain sweat or liquid. The dirt in carpet fibres is the perfect attraction for larvae who love to hide here. The larvae spend their whole time eating and they can damage your clothing in a relatively short period of time.
. Your most expensive cashmere jumper or fine woolen suits will be a target for the hungry larvae. They will eat until they have the right amount of food needed for them to turn into moths. At this stage, they will make a cocoon and emerge a few months later as a moth. The common clothes moth is not responsible for your damaged clothes. Their sole purpose is to mate, and a female moth can lay hundreds of eggs. After reproduction, the moths finally die.
Most people assume the moths are the culprit of their damaged clothes and will attempt to get rid of them from their home. Your clothes are destroyed by the actual larvae. Even if you manage to remove the larvae, the eggs will hatch and the process will begin again. As the eggs and larvae are so small, halting a common moth infestation is not easy. Most people will attempt to wash all their clothes or rugs. Cleaning clothes or throwing them away can be a costly and time consuming affair. Other methods must also be employed if you wish to eradicate a common moth infestation.
Catching the male is easier with a clothes moth trap. A pheromone trap is used to trap the male and this will prevent any further reproduction. . However these methods will only halt further egg laying. Expert help may be needed to get rid of the common moth infestation completely.
A specialised company will come to your home and make an assessment on the likely course of action. This will be dependent on how big the infestation is. There are several methods available to them, including fumigation with dry ice, freezing temperatures or heat. Removing their source of moisture will stop the larvae from feeding. There will normally be one or two visits required. Possibly, a final visit may be needed to remove any hatched eggs
Terminex can banish the pests from your home. Visit their website for more details.
Clothes Moth Infestation or Moth problems or Terminex
