How to get rid of clothes moths

Clothes moth image
Clothes moth
Moth Control packshot combined image
PestXpert Total Moth Control

The changing of the season brings on a change in your wardrobe….. and all over the country there are cries of anguish as small holes are found in favorite jumpers, shirts, skirts and trousers. Perhaps the most likely culprits are clothes moths!

Clothes moths thrive in the coastal areas of Australia where the warm, humid climate aids their development, but they are found across Australia. The adults are poor flyers and tend to hide in undisturbed dark places – wardrobes where you store your clothes are ideal! They will eat a wide range of animal fabrics such as wool, silk and leather. Clothes moths may be seen flying away from stored clothes when disturbed, but it is actually their larvae or caterpillars that do the damage.

webbing clothes moth larva
"Naked" clothes moth larvae outside of its "webbing" or "case"

There are two different types of clothes moth, the webbing clothes moth and case making clothes month. The webbing clothes moth larvae hides under layers of web like material when feeding. The webbing picks up droppings and pieces of fabric making it very hard to see. When they move to a new feeding site, they leave the webbing behind. In contrast the case-making clothes moth make themselves a case made of silk which they take with them wherever they go. Again these can be hard to spot as they also pick up debris, making them very well camouflaged. 

There is no particular clothes moth season, as the moths live indoors. However, temperature does impact the speed of development (and therefore the size of their appetite!), with warmer temperatures speeding up their life-cycle. As such you need to be on guard against clothes moths year round.

Prevention tips:

  • Regularly vacuum all carpeted rooms, especially in undisturbed areas, such as under heavy furniture
  • Move or inspect under heavy furniture in carpeted rooms for signs of damage / insect activity
  • At the end of each season, wash and store clothes that will not be used for a while in sealed bags or suitcases. If you are not sure your clothes are free of pests before storage, your clothes should be thoroughly washed in hot water / tumble dried / placed in sealed plastic bag for several hours (using the appropriate method for the fabric), before storing in a well sealed bag or container
  • Hang PestXpert Total Moth Control cartridges in wardrobes to eliminate any adult moths
  • Drawers can be treated with an insecticide spray labeled for clothes moths, such as PestXpert Pro-Spray Flying. Make sure clothes are removed before spraying and wait until the treatment has dried before returning the clothes.

What should you do if you have an infestation?

  • Inspect all wardrobes, drawers, carpeted rooms and curtains for signs of insect activity and damage.
  • Remove clothes and treat all affected areas with an insecticide spray (aerosol or pump pack), focusing on areas where damage was noted and under furniture in carpeted rooms.
  • Wardrobes and drawers should be treated as per prevention tips.
  • Clothes from infested areas that are not damaged and you want to keep, should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and placed in the sun for 1-2 hours. The heat will kill the larvae and eggs. The clothes can then be washed. Delicate clothing should be inspected individually rather than being exposed to heat.
  • Hang PestXpert Total Moth Control cartridges in wardrobes to eliminate any adult moths still present and provide continuous protection for up to 3 months.

Of course the holes in your clothes may not be caused by clothes moths. Silverfish or even carpet beetles are also happy to feast in your wardrobe! But don’t worry, these treatment steps will work on these critters as well. But if you regularly apply the prevention tips, favourite clothes should re-appear for the new season as “good as new”!

For information on clothes moths products please visit our clothes moth page on our website. 

PESTXPERT PRODUCTS FOR PANTRY MOTHS

For adults

PestXpert Total Moth Control kills adult clothes moths and provides continuous protection for up to 3 months. Just place in your wardrobes.

Also works on pantry moths.

Pestxpert Pro-Spray Flying aerosol delivers fine droplets to target flying moths.

For larvae

Pestxpert Indoor and Outdoor has a flexible nozzle to target hard to reach places where larvae and pupae may hide, providing long lasting protection

PestXpert Pro-Spray Crawling PestXpert Pro-Spray Crawling aerosol has an extendable nozzle for spraying food cupboards, cracks and crevices to provide long lasting protection from larvae.

Share This Post

You may also be interested in...

×
×

Cart