Clothing Moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See Wikipedia:How to edit a page and Category:Wikipedia help for help, or this article's talk page.
 |
||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Tineola bisselliella |
A clothing moth (Tineola bisselliella) is a winged insect, capable of flying, developing from caterpillars. They are recognized for being a serious pest. Like most moth caterpillars, they can (and will) nourish from other things than just clothing.
Contents |
[edit] Varieties
The Casemaking Clothes Moth is not as common as Webbing Clothing Moth. Casemaking moths are smaller, around 1/8 to 1/4 inch. This "Casing" tube these moths make is spun from silk and can become their refuge of protection in times of danger. Both species are controlled the same way.
The tapestry or carpet moth will infest all the same areas as webbing cloth and casemaking moths. Tapestry moths complete their cycles under a year and are more like webbing clothes moths in that they spin webbing in areas where they like to reside. Like the other two, the speed they development depends entirely on local temperature, humidity and food supplies.
[edit] Nourishment
Clothing moths (Tineola bisselliella) and the Case-bearing Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella) are notorious for feeding on clothing and natural fibers; they have the ability to turn keratin, a protein, into food. Clothing moths prefer dirty fabric and are particularly attracted to carpeting or clothing that has human sweat, or other liquids which have spilled on them. They are attracted to these areas not for the food but for the moisture. Moth larvae do not drink water consequently their food must contain moisture.
[edit] Development
Clothing moths development cycle. Eggs hatch larva, which then begin to feed. Once they get their fill they pupate and undergo metamorphosis to emerge as an adult. Adults do not eat; male adults look for females and adult females look for a place to lay eggs. Once their job is done they die. Contrary to what most people believe, adult clothing moths do not eat or cause any damage to clothing or fabric. It is the larva that are solely responsible for this; larva spend their entire time eating and foraging for food.
Both adults and larva prefer low light conditions. Most moths are drawn to light but clothing moths seem to like dim to dark areas over well lit rooms. If larva find themselves in a well-lit room, they will try to relocate under furniture or carpet edges. Hand made rugs are a favorite because it is easy for them to crawl underneath and do their damage from below. They will also crawl under moldings at the edges of rooms in search of darkened areas which hold good food.
The most common clothing moth is the Webbing Clothes Moth. They prefer moist conditions, but low humidity merely slows their development. Webbing Clothes Moths are small moths with adults growing between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Their eggs are tiny most being under 1 millimeter (1/24th of an inch) long and barely visible. Females will lay several hundred during her life and egg placement will be carefully chosen in locations where they will have the best chance for survival. The eggs are attached with a glue-like substance. Eggs can be quite difficult to remove. After the egg hatches, the larva will immediately look for food. Larva can get their required food in under two months but if conditions are not favorable, larva will feed on and off for a long time. Whether it takes two months or two years, larva will eventually spin a cocoon in which they will change into adults. They will stay in these cocoon 1-2 months and then emerge as adults ready to mate and lay eggs.
[edit] Infestation
[edit] Control measures
Control measures can include the following:
Clothing Moth Traps - This step can help monitor the current infestation and prevents males from mating with females.
Vacuuming - This is an important step to full eradication as moths like to hide in carpeting and baseboards.
Dry cleaning - This step kills moths on existing clothing and helps remove moisture from clothes.
Sunlight - has a limited effect
Heat - Extreme high temperatures (120 degrees Fahrenheit or 50 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes plus). (An attic, or sometimes washing clothes at these temperatures.)
Freezing - Freezing the object for several days at temperatures below 18°F or 0°C, or fumigating with dry ice
Permethrin - Typically an aerosol or spray works best here.
Nylar - Stops the life cycle.
Mothballs - There are two types of mothballs. The older mothballs are made of napthalene while newer mothballs are made of paradichlorobenzene. Both turn to gaseous state. Both fall to the lowest point as a gas and need to reach a high concentration to be effective.
Apply chemical using a sprayer and be sure to get proper coverage. Don't spread it too thin and treat once a month for the first three months and then once a quarter for the next year to insure the infestation is under control
