Clothes Moths
Clothes moths are pests because they cause considerable damage to clothing, carpets and furniture in the home. Unlike most moths, they avoid light and prefer dark, undisturbed areas, such as closets and attics, crevices of upholstered furniture, and areas of carpeting covered by furniture. They are most likely to infest stored, undisturbed materials, so a lot of damage can occur before they are discovered.
Clothes moth larvae, pupae and adult on wool. Larvae are creamy white up to 1/2 inch long.
Adults are golden colored moths, and may be uniform in color or have indistinct dark specks on the wings. They have reddish golden hairs on top of the head, and are about 1/2 inch long.
Damage is usually to stored articles and may consist of irregular surface feeding or holes eaten through the fabric.
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Identification and Control Information
- Clothes Moths: Identification and Control in the Home (PDF)—Colorado State University Extension
- Fact Sheet: Clothes Moths (PDF)—Utah State University Extension
- Fact Sheet: Clothes Moths (PDF)—Cornell University Insect Diagnostic Laboratory
More Information
- Mothballs: Proper Use and Alternative Controls for Clothes Moths (PDF)—Pacific Northwest Extension
[Photos, left to right: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org; unknown; University of Georgia Archive, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org]