Besides their color, one thing that separates a moth from a butterfly is its ability to destroy your clothing. If you are seeing clothing moths around your home, it won't be long before you begin to notice small holes in your clothing and other fabrics.
At Hawk Mosquito & Pest, we offer a variety of home pest control services in Chesapeake, including clothing moth removal. If you want to keep these annoying and destructive insects away from your clothes and your home, here is an easy and effective way to do it.
Understanding Clothing Moths: Anatomy, Behavior, And Life Cycle
Clothing moths in Chesapeake go through four life stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult. It usually takes a moth egg a few days or weeks to hatch. Once hatched, a caterpillar (larva) will emerge.
The moth is most destructive when it is in the larval stage and will eat clothing made out of silk, cotton, wool, and fur. The moth caterpillar will need to eat as much as it can so it can quickly grow and enter the pupal stage. During this stage, the mature larva will build a cocoon around its body and stay there for several weeks. It's at this time the caterpillar grows wings and transforms into a moth. Once the metamorphosis is complete, an adult moth will emerge from the cocoon.
Clothing moth larvae are smaller than other types of caterpillars and usually only measure around half an inch long. They typically have cream-colored bodies with dark-colored heads. If you see these caterpillars crawling around your home, contact a clothing moth pest control specialist as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of damage to your clothes and other fabrics.
Undercover Intruders: The Origins Of Clothing Moth Invasions
Clothing moth eggs are incredibly small and only measure about one millimeter. In order to protect their eggs, adult moths will usually lay them in old boxes, furniture, clothing, and even within your pet's fur. Usually, a person will inadvertently bring an infested object into their home without realizing it has clothing moth eggs. Once these creatures get into your house, you will need the help of a moth control specialist to eliminate them completely.
Preventing Clothing Moths: Proactive Measures For Wardrobe Protection
Because these moths are usually accidentally brought into a home, you should be vigilant when bringing home second-hand items or items that have been outdoors for an extended period of time. Other moth prevention tips that our moth exterminators recommend trying include:
- Wash all clothing and bedding in your home regularly.
- Store unused clothes, blankets, and other items in a sealed container.
- Keep your home clutter-free to reduce the amount of hiding spots for the moths.
If you have tried all the preventative measures but still see clothing moths in your house, you should team up with a clothes moth killer. An experienced professional can determine how and why the moths are in your home.
Pro Pest Control: The Expert Touch For Total Clothing Moth Control
While clothing moths are not able to cause direct harm to humans or pets, it is best to leave this pest problem to the professionals. At Hawk Mosquito & Pest, we provide expert pest control in Chesapeake that will efficiently get rid of moths. We will develop a customized elimination and prevention plan that is sure to keep moths away for good. Give us a call today!