What are Clothes moths?

Common Clothes Moths, otherwise known as Tineola bisselliella, are a small species of fungus moth. Fungus moths are a family of moth, often small in size and brown in colour. The most common species found in the UK are the Common Clothes Moth, and the Case-Bearing Clothes Moth.

What do they eat?

Outside of your home Clothes Moths will primarily feed on living plants such as fungi, lichens (a type of algae), and detritus. Within your home the clothes moth will choose to lay it’s eggs near a source of keratin, the food source for their larvae. Keratin is an oily substance found within natural fibres such as: linen, cotton, feathers, fur, wool, silk, leather and even hair. This means that their larvae is often feeding on your clothes, carpets, or upholstery, causing the fabrics to disintegrate and in some cases can cost you thousands in damage/repairs.

Where do they live?

Geographically speaking, clothes moths originate in the Palaearctic, an area that spans across Europe, Northern Asia, Northern Africa, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Clothes Moths are found in other areas of the world, but they’re not native and are much less common.

Within your home Clothes Moths prefer quiet, undisturbed areas with very low levels of light. This could be in your attic/loft, basements, cupboards, draws, and even the space under your bed.

How do we get rid of them?

At Accurate Pest Control Management we use spraying and fogging techniques with appropriate insecticide in combination with pheromone traps to eliminate the population of Clothes Moths in your home. These traps work by releasing the female moth pheromone which attracts the males and confuses them into not scenting.

Two treatments are normally required 14 days apart.

Do you think you might have a clothes moth infestation in your home? Contact us now to book a property survey: