Moths in the home are a common sight and are totally harmless to our health. However, they can become a problem when they lay eggs. Moth eggs progress into larvae which can cause large damage to our homes as they love to eat clothes and furniture. You may have heard of the phrase ‘moth eaten’ or ‘moth hole’, which is self-explanatory – if you notice parts of your favourite blankets and/or other items have holes in, then you may have a moth infestation!
Unfortunately, moths can stay at this life stage for up to two and a half years, giving them a good feasting opportunity. This could cost you hugely in the long run! Female moths can lay up to 400 eggs over their lifetime and these eggs are so small you will struggle to see them with the naked eye. Their growth is most rapid at average room temperature.
There are two common types of moths which include clothes moths and food moths. There are various species of each but as the name suggests, one feeds on natural fibres such as clothing and wood and try to avoid light, whereas food moths seek out food. If you notice webbing cases on the floor, it may be from the webbing clothes moth which sheds its case when metamorphosing into a moth. All moths have a heightened sense of smell compared to other insects and can detect odour using their antennae.
How to tackle a moth infestation:
- Use a high temperature when washing and drying your clothes.
- Cold temperatures (such as freezing your clothing garments and furniture for 3+ days) will kill all life stages of the moth. There is no guarantee that you will kill all of them if you put the items outdoors.
- Hoovering quickly captures the eggs before they have a chance to metamorphose. Make sure you get in the crevices of your house as they do like to hide in dark corners. Empty the hoover outside of your house afterwards and clean it thoroughly to ensure no eggs or moths remain.
- To reduce the chance of moths and eggs spreading, put items into plastic bags whilst they wait to be laundered.
- Use insecticides according to the label and make sure you are using an insecticide specifically for moths.
We recommend getting in touch with us to eradicate the moths properly. Although you can attempt to treat it yourself, shop-bought treatments are not always thorough and the moths could move to other areas.