Latin: Tineola bisselliella and Tine pellionella
Although there are several different species of moths that can attack textiles in the home and in the industry, it is mainly two specific species in United Kingdom that are the reason for those attacks. These species are the clothing moth, also known as Tineola bisselliella, and the fur moth known as Tinea pellionella.
One of these moths, the clothing moth, is believed to have arrived in United Kingdom during the 18th century, when heating in homes made it possible for the moth to survive the cold weather. Before heating, this moth kept more to the south, where the weather was hot and humid enough for them to survive. As danish homes were equipped with stoves, it became easier for the moths to multiply inside. In comparing, the fur moth has always been able to survive in the danish climate, and they can be found in the wild too. The fur moth can especially be observed in bird nests.
Appearance
The cloths moth has the shape and color as must people think of when they think of moth in textiles; The moth is beige in color and the body is elongated. It is equipped with two antennas on the head, which in resting condition is turned backwards. Both the clothing moth and the fur moths lay eggs, and those eggs are difficult to spot.
You may think you have spotted their eggs in your clothes, but that is often excrements form the larva. The larva is not very clean, and their excrements can be found anywhere but the eggs from the moth are usually hidden in the textiles.
The eggs can be recognized by their whitish color, although both excrement and eggs have a rounded shape.
Biology and behavior
A fully grown female moth can lay 100 – 150 eggs during her lifetime. Since the eggs are laid in the fabric folds as well as in fur, they can be very difficult to sport, even when there are many of them. The eggs are laid very loose and they can be very fragile. Therefore, it is not all 100 – 150 eggs that hatches and become larvae.
The development depends on the environment. A larva will hatch after 4-8 days, but they can die if the temperature has been below 0 for more than 3 weeks. A larva can grow big in just 6-7 weeks, bur this only happens, if they have enough to eat as well as a steady temperature around 25 degrees.
Both clothes moth larvae an fur moth larvae spin sticky threads, which protect the individual larva from drying out. This sticky web also helps to create a ‘tail’ of excrement, remnants of food and dirt. The larvae of the cloth moth move around whit this web is glued to the surface. The fur larva drags its web behind it in a tubular shape.
Damage
You know if you have moths in your textiles if there are adult moths flying around in your home. The larvae are more subtle, as they hide in the textile that are not used that often. Like cloth or furs that are stored in boxes or even old furniture in the attic.
Prevention and control
Depending on whether you suspect fur moth, clothing moth or a completely third type of moth, you should fight the moth by spraying both clothes and the house. The clothing moth larvae will pupate where they are where fur moth larvae seek cracks and fissures in walls and moldings, so those areas should also be treated.
Infested woolen clothes should be treated by washing and drying, as this will kill both the adult moths, eggs, and larvae. You can also dryclean the cloth. Remember not to use insect repellant directly on your clothing, as it may cause irritation. Adult moths that are flying around should be controlled with insect spray so that they do not reproduce.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
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