Do Carpet Moths Eat Clothes

Webbing clothes moth larvae like to feast on carpet in dark corners behind furniture.

Do carpet moths eat clothes.

Both moths will feed upon cotton clothing if it is blended with an animal fiber. Clothes moth larvae can stay at this stage for up to 30 months 2 years happily eating your clothing whilst waiting for the right conditions to turn into adult moths. You should vacuum your carpets on a regular base and wash your items of clothing. Some will even attack man made fibres.

Carpet beetles and moths both cause holes in your clothes and especially like to feed on cotton clothing or other fabrics. They re especially attracted to food or certain chemical attractants from your perfume deodorant musk etc. The female moth lays hundreds of soft white eggs that adhere to the fabric and hatch quickly. Bugs that commonly eat cotton carpet beetles of the family dermestidae are responsible for most damage to cotton or synthetic clothing.

This is precisely why clothing moth issues persist through the. Finally moving back to the wardrobe all clothing made of natural fibres are going to attract moths. They are attracted to food stains spills and smells so it is crucial for a moth free life keeping all your textiles clean and tidy. It is the clothes moth larvae which are solely responsible for damage to clothing and carpets and which spend their entire time eating and foraging for food.

Rather confusingly most of these moth species will sometimes switch from carpets to clothes and chew any natural fabrics like cotton wool and silk. That is why in the wardrobe you are likely to find moth holes around areas on the clothes that get sweaty under arms are a prime example. Contrary to what most people believe adult moths do not eat or cause any damage to clothing or fabric. 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.

The casemaking clothes moth will sometimes use cotton fibers to cocoon themselves when nothing else is available. This means items made of cashmere and wool cotton and silk.