Where do moths come from in the house?

Are you tired of moths fluttering around your home, nibbling away at your clothes or pantry goods? You’re not alone. In the UK, there are over 2500 species of moths, but only a few of these species are considered pests and are commonly found in homes. Understanding what attracts the different moth species and how they enter your home is vital to eliminating them. Today, we will share with you how moths enter our homes, how to deal with an infestation, and how to reclaim your space.

The common clothes-eating pests found in UK homes are the Casemaking Moth, the Webbing Moth, and the Carpet Moth (T. bisselliella, T. pellionella, and T. tapetzella). These moth species feed on textiles and materials made of both animal and plant origin, such as cotton, linen, silk, wool fabrics, and furs. Check why clothes moths eat your garments.

Unlike other types of moths, clothes moths aren’t attracted to bright light, whether natural or artificial. Instead, they prefer dark and humid places to feed and lay their eggs. When disturbed, they fly away, searching for cover to conceal themselves. Therefore, it is highly unlikely for these pests to enter your home by flying through cracks and crevices. We usually bring their eggs and larvae in through items like clothes and furniture purchased from garage sales and thrift stores or hand-me-downs.

The Brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) is one of the most common moths in the UK. Unfortunately, this species is a notorious pest that can cause serious damage to homes and businesses. Brown house moths are destructive feeders that can cause significant damage to various items, including dry foods, furniture, carpets, and wood floor inlays. The species is often called false clothes moths because their larvae also feed on fabrics of animal origin. They can break down and digest keratin and are known to consume book bindings, wine bottle corks, and leather. The larvae can even bite through synthetic carpet fibres to create pupation cells. Brown house moths are considered a more serious pest in Britain than in other parts of the world.

Like clothes moths, the brown house moths’ larvae and eggs can enter your home through infested clothes, furnishings, and contaminated dry foods like groats, flour, powdered milk, etc. Unlike clothes moths, brown house moths are attracted to light and can enter your home through an open window. Still, they need appropriate food and breeding conditions to stay and for infestation to occur. This species needs humidity and warmth for their eggs to hatch and larvae to develop.

Many types of moths feed on stored foods, but what we see in our pantry most often are Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella). This species is one of the most common pests worldwide – found on every continent except Antarctica. Pantry moths feed on stored dry food such as cereal, grains, rice, pasta, flour, beans, seeds, nuts, dried fruits, spices, chocolate, candies, dry pet and bird food, and powdered milk. These pests can chew through packaging or enter through small holes in it, and the infestation can spread from package to package. The females lay their eggs directly on the food source but don’t necessarily stay close to it. That is why they are often mistaken for clothes moths. However, spotting a web-like substance in the flour or spice jar is a sure tell-tale sign you are dealing with pantry moth infestation.

Unfortunately, it’s most likely that you brought them home yourself. Even though pantry moths are attracted to light and can enter through doors and windows, most infestations start when we accidentally bring home eggs and caterpillars in our dried foods. Additionally, these moths can breed in decorative items containing seeds, legumes, and dried berries, such as dried flower arrangements, shadow box displays, bean balls, bean bags, and dried Indian corn.

Whether we brought their eggs home or the pests flew in, all moth species lay their eggs at concealed places where their larvae can hatch and feed undisturbed. Infestations often begin when fabrics, furniture and foodstuff items are stored improperly in dark areas and left unattended for extended periods of time. The first noticeable signs of a moth infestation are often damage to clothes and furniture or spotting the flying or crawling adult insects. Here are a few indicators that you have a severe moth problem:

• Tiny, maggot-like larvae (moth caterpillars)
• Silken tubes or cases left from the larvae
• Fur coats and collars that shed excessively
• Tiny holes in plastic food packages
• Eggs or moth caterpillars inside food containers
• Webs in the dry food

During moth infestation, the actual damage isn’t caused by the adults but by the tiny larvae that often hide in their food sources. Identifying the exact species of moth that is invading your home and finding a solution can be a challenging task. In most cases, it is best to call a pest control specialist for help. Here’s what to do to get rid of moths:

• Determine the type of moth you are dealing with – knowing the species will point you where to find and kill the larvae.
• Clean the infested fabric items – whether they’re furs, clothes, or furnishings- you must wash all affected items at high temperatures to kill eggs and larvae. Alternatively, you can freeze some items that can’t be washed.
• Throw away contaminated foods – inspect your pantry and storage rooms and throw away all packages containing webs, larvae and eggs.
• Hoover and ventilate all infested areas – clean affected spaces with non-toxic moth killers – avoid using harsh chemicals as they pose a health danger to your family and pets
• Store your belongings properly – put away clothes and bed linens in vacuum-sealed bags when not using them. Transfer dry foods to airtight glass containers after getting them from the shop. Keep furs and feathers in the coldest rooms of the house, or leave them in specialised storage.
• Inspect all storage spaces annually – make the chore part of your Spring cleaning routine.

You can read more tips on how to get rid of moths in your home in this detailed guide.

Are you struggling with a moth infestation? Don’t hesitate to book our moth control service. We’ll assess the situation, implement effective strategies, and rid your home of these pests for good