Crops Affected: Indoor pest

States Affected: All states

Life Cycle: Webbing clothes moths are poor fliers and are typically found near infested items in dark closet areas. Larvae create silk webs that trap excrement and fabric particles, forming temporary feeding tubes. When they move on, they abandon the webbing. Excrement takes on the color of the fabric dyes consumed, so it can blend with fabric color and escape notice. Females lay 40 to 50 eggs before dying, while males continue to mate. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon on the fabric. The moth's life cycle lasts around four to six months, with two generations per year. Heated buildings support year-round development.

Damage: Clothes moths are sneaky and may go unnoticed until they've already harmed fabrics, fur, or feathered items. Look for their telltale silken webs upon close inspection. They feed on wool clothing, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, furs, stored woolen items, brushes with animal bristles, wool felt pads in pianos, and even fish food. They may also utilize cotton fibers for pupal cases. Damage typically occurs in concealed areas like under collars or cuffs, furniture crevices, and beneath furniture on carpets. Stained fabrics with food, perspiration, or urine are particularly vulnerable to damage.

Season to Trap: Year round, less in winter

How To Use: Place assembled trap with lure inside in storage areas or closets where pest is present or suspected. Replace every 90 days through the season. Adult males are attracted to the pheromones in the lure. Once they land on the sticky trap, they become ensnared, never to mate or lay eggs again.

Additional IPM Solutions: To combat clothes moth issues, use methods like dry cleaning, laundering, proper storage, freezing, heating, and fumigating. Maintaining low humidity indoors and minimizing cracks reduces their presence. Regularly inspect fabrics and closets, vacuum, and apply insecticides with pyrethroids or pyrethrin to affected areas. Complex infestations may require professional pest control assistance.