Moths: finding the larvae and cleaning up storage
The little moth you chase eats nothing; its larvae, meanwhile, feed in silence.
The short answer
The webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) is a golden moth 6–7 mm long whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur and feathers. The Indian meal moth, or pantry moth (Plodia interpunctella), recognisable by its two-tone wings, attacks flour, cereals, dried fruit and pet food. In both cases, the larval source is treated and the storage space involved is cleaned up.
Identity card
Scientific name: Tineola bisselliella, Plodia interpunctella
- Size
- 6–7 mm (clothes moth); about 8–10 mm (pantry moth)
- Appearance
- Clothes moth: uniform, shiny golden beige; pantry moth: wings cream at the base, coppery at the tips
- Life expectancy
- A few weeks for the moth; the larval stage lasts from a few weeks to several months depending on temperature
- Active period
- Year-round wherever homes are heated
- Where it hides
- Wardrobes, chests of drawers, rugs, under armchairs, storage boxes, food cupboards
How to spot moths
Tick off in your head what you have seen: the more the clues overlap, the surer the diagnosis.
- Irregular holes in jumpers, scarves and suits, often under the collar, at the armpits and in folds.
- Whitish silk cases and fine droppings the colour of the fabric on clothes or under rugs.
- Flour or cereal clumped together and laced with silky threads.
- Small moths resting on the kitchen ceiling or in cupboards.
Understanding how it behaves
The clothes moth flies little and avoids light: you are more likely to see it running across fabric, or fluttering when you open a wardrobe. Its larvae, white with a brown head, digest the keratin in animal fibres and prefer clothes that have been worn, stained with sweat or food, and left stored for a long time.
The pantry moth happily flies around the kitchen in the evening. Its larvae spin silk threads in open packets, then climb to the corners and hinges of cupboards to pupate. A single contaminated packet can be enough to spread to an entire store cupboard.
Adult moths do not feed. Pheromone traps help measure activity, but only finding the larval source solves the problem, at home just as in a clothing shop or grocery.
Why it shouldn't be left
- Clothes, rugs, curtains and collectors' items damaged beyond repair.
- Food to be thrown away, sometimes a whole store cupboard.
- Moths returning if larvae remain in cracks, corners or under skirting boards.
- For a clothing shop, grocery or pet shop: unsellable stock.
What the technician does: moths
01
Inspect
Species identification, search for larval sources in storage areas, pheromone traps set to measure activity.
02
Treat
Targeted treatment of cupboards, wardrobes, rugs or stores with an authorised insecticide; advice on treating textiles with heat or cold.
03
Sanitise
Affected food and textiles sorted, corners and cracks vacuumed, items stored in covers or airtight containers.
04
Follow up
Traps read at the follow-up visit as set out in the protocol, photo report and active vigilance over sensitive storage areas.
Prevention, at home and at work
Simple habits that lower the risk of the intruder settling in or coming back.
- 01At home: only put away clean woollens, in garment bags or closed boxes.
- 02Take out, shake and air clothes you rarely wear and rugs that see little light.
- 03Keep flour, rice, pasta, dried fruit and pet food in jars that seal well.
- 04Check opened packets and clean the corners and hinges of cupboards.
- 05In a shop or stockroom: rotate stock, inspect deliveries and read the pheromone traps.
Your questions
Do lavender sachets protect a wardrobe?
They may keep some moths away, but they kill neither the eggs nor the larvae already present. If there is an infestation, the source must be found and treated first.
What should I do with a jumper where I found larvae?
Wash it at the highest temperature on the label, or put it in a sealed bag in the freezer for a few days. Then brush it and store it in a clean garment bag.
What are sticky pheromone traps for?
They mainly attract males and show whether activity is falling or picking up again. They are a valuable monitoring tool, not a treatment: larvae keep feeding until the source is dealt with.
When should I call in a professional?
When moths reappear despite sorting and cleaning, when several rooms or a valuable rug are affected, or for a business that stores textiles or food.
Moths at home or on your premises?
2-hour slot, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm, price shown and paid online, photo report emailed on the day of the visit.
Related service: Crawling insect treatment
