When do Clothes Moths Get Active?
The trigger for clothes moths to pupate, turn into adults and fly to new locations in search of new food sources to lay their eggs is warmer weather, and ideally a degree of humidity.
So weather patterns are key here - warmer States across the south of the US (think Florida across to Texas and then across to California) will be likely to see clothes moth activity all year round. In the northern states (Washington State across to New York), the cold winter temperatures delay pupation until the weather warms up in the spring - larvae will still be causing damage to clothing, particularly in centrally heated homes, but flying moths will only emerge with warmer temperatures.
So clothes moth traps are best used in warmer weather (normally 65 degrees or more) but there may still be the need to use treatments where larvae are still causing damage outside warmer times.
Where do Clothes Moths Come From?
Clothes moths may arrive in your home from adjacent properties or gardens. We have also seen instances of bird nests under roof eaves and in chimneys being sources of infestation for our customers - think bird feathers as being a keratin-rich food source for clothes moth larvae.
Apartment blocks and other densely populated inner city areas (terraced housing) provide close adjacency for transfer of clothes moths form one home to another - we see significant infestations constantly in central San Francisco and Manhattan.
However, given ideal rural food sources in nature, clothes moths are not solely an urban phenomenon. Clothes moth traps provide a first line of defence in avoiding a clothes moth infestation.
Do Clothes Moth Traps Work?
Clothes Moth Traps only catch active male moths, not females or juveniles, so some customers wonder why they still see some moths flying / not trapped - this takes time for the breeding cycle to stop (4-6 weeks).
Customers also wonder why they have damage to clothes and / or carpets when they have been actively trapping clothes moths - this is usually explained by larvae that have hatched and not yet pupated eating the natural animal fibres. In time they will turn into adult moths as part of their natural lifecycle.
It takes time to deal with a moth infestation - sadly there is no immediate quick fix without some work.
I’ve put out clothes moth traps but have only caught 1 or 2 moths. But I’m still seeing lots of flying moths?
The ‘flying moths’ may be juvenile males or female clothes moths - they will not be attracted to the female clothes moth pheromone - only adult males will.
The moths may not be clothes moths, or any of the 4 targeted species - common clothes moths (‘webbing clothes moths’), case making clothes moths, brown house moths, white-shouldered moths. You may have pantry moths - Indian Meal Moths or Mediterranean Flour Moths, or another species.
Won’t Clothes Moth Traps Encourage Clothes Moths into the House?
This is unlikely - only mature males are likely to find any attraction in the female clothes moth pheromones and the effective range is not likely to bring them into the home form an adjacent property or the garden.
If only males did come into the home, they cannot breed alone; female clothes moths coming in to the home are likely looking for a suitable food source (natural animal-fibre based textiles) to lay their eggs.
My moth traps aren’t catching anything. Is this old stock?
The effective life of MothPrevention® Clothes Moth Pheromone Traps (12 weeks) only starts after the sticky glue board outer packaging of the moth sticky traps is opened.
The outer packaging is also date-stamped with an expiry date - usually 18 to 24 months after you will have received it.
It's challenging to get the backing off of the sticky paper moth trap without getting your hands sticky?
We recommend that you put the sticky glue boards in their outer packaging for a couple of hours - this will make it far easier to peel the protective cover off the pheromone glue board after opening the outer packaging.
Wish it wasn't so expensive. Pretty pricey for the set of 3 clothes moth traps
Compared to significant economic loss to you with your most expensive clothing items and carpets at risk, we feel they are a relatively sensible choice for the peace of mind for what have been proven to be the absolute best clothes moth traps on the market.
Oh, and you get free shipping to your home when buying from MothPrevention!
How do I get the sticky glue off my hands?
If you accidentally get the sticky glue on your hands when assembling the clothes moth traps, simply rub a little olive oil into your hands and then wash thoroughly with soap and water.
I’ve seen moths in my home, when is the best time to do a treatment?
Assuming you have identified the moths as clothes moths (one of the species referred to above and shown in our identification guides) then start straight away by placing clothes moth pheromone traps. Follow this up with a detailed look into your clothes stored in your closets and drawers. Take out clothing and check for damage in the form of holes in woollens, cashmere, merino, silk etc - natural animal based fibres. Look closely for the larvae. If you’ve reached the stage of clothes moth damage then you’ll need additional action and likely a moth killer kit to deal with the infestation - to save the considerable investment in your clothing will take work, but will be worth it. If there’s no damage, but you find that the flying moths are clothes moths, start with clothes moth traps to reduce and then break the breeding cycle as soon as you can, and then use ongoing for monitoring purposes.
I’ve seen moths flying around, what do I do?
Start with identification - are they clothes moths? The most common clothes is the webbing clothes moth which will be about a quarter inch long and golden in colour. If you have clothes moths, set up clothes moth traps - locate them 3 to 6 feet high and near to the activity you’ve seen, which will typically be close to your valuable knitwear and other natural fibre textiles, although not cotton, which is a plant based fabric. Over time, keep checking the clothes moth traps - are they filling up as rapidly as when you first set them up? Or are the number of moths caught declining over time? If they are reducing then you are probably getting on top of the increase in the population and reducing the likelihood of a full-blown infestation. If they are not declining, it is probable that you have a deeper problem that requires more investigation of your clothing to see if they have been laying eggs there (that then hatch into larvae before pupating into adult clothes moths). See the advice above about next steps. Or there maybe an alternative source of the clothes moths coming into your home from outside - you’ll need to investigate if this is form an immediately adjacent property or on your property (natural sources such as bird nests), and take appropriate action.
I have seen a couple of moths flying around, does this mean I have a moth infestation?
Not necessarily - it may be the start of clothes moths coming into the home in search of suitable sites in which to breed and lay their eggs, and in which case setting up clothes moth pheromone traps close to where you have seen them may be all you need to do. Constant vigilance is important once you are aware of the potential for a future infestation - clothes moths will breed prolifically if left undisturbed, particularly at times of warmer weather and / or higher humidity.
What are clothes moths attracted to?
Male Clothes moths will be attracted to the female clothes moth pheromone (like that contained in our clothes moth traps) - they will be looking to breed (which is their sole activity / purpose after the larval stage. Female clothes moths will be looking for natural animal-based fibres in which to lay their eggs. Both males and females are attracted to dark, undisturbed places where they can breed and with close proximity to the likely food source for the larvae when the eggs hatch - think little-used closets, under furniture, dusty attics etc.
Can I ever get rid of moths? My friend says that once you’ve got them you’ll have them forever.
At MothPrevention® we would say that it depends on how much work you are prepared to do if you have had a full blown infestation - if you are prepared to isolate the locations of the infestation and thoroughly treat any infested textiles / clothes / carpets, and the actual closets, drawers etc where the infestation is located, then it is perfectly possible to get rid of even a severe clothes moth infestation. Then the trick will be to prevent a recurrence - and that will only be possible through the following three-pronged approach: Be vigilant and regularly check the likely places that clothes moths will set up home in your house - under furniture, in closets, dark corners, attics etc. Regularly clean out, vacuum thoroughly and wash down these areas. Set up and maintain clothes moth traps for a period after the last infestation to monitor and reduce the likelihood of a repeat infestation. Note that clothes moths are active at night / in dark undisturbed places so you will be likely asleep when they are active!
What causes moths in the house?
Moths come into the house for various reasons. Harmless larger moths are attracted to light. Clothes and Pantry moths however are problematic - they come into the house to look for food sources for their larvae that hatch from the eggs laid on your animal-based fibre clothing and home textiles (clothes & carpet moths) or dried food (pantry moths). So the causes or moths in the house for the species that damage textiles or infest food are driven by the need for their larvae to eat.
What is the best clothes moth trap?
The best clothes moth trap is designed to allow easy access for adult male moths and yet provides a darker ‘safe’ place for clothes moths, which hate light and being disturbed. Design is also important to customers - a discrete design with a flatter profile doesn’t advertise the presence of moths to guests and hangs more easily in the closet. The glue is important to ensure effective trapping. Lastly, and importantly, the best clothes moth trap has the most effective pheromone to attract the male moths - the cheap Chinese imitations absolutely fail on this critical aspect and that is why we have our pheromones specially engineered in Germany by scientists who really understand this deeply technical area (exclusive to MothPrevention). It's also why our moth traps are not cheap! But they work. Period.
How long do clothes moths live?
Clothes moths only live for about a month - many customers do not realize that it's the moth larvae that hatch from their eggs that do the damage to precious home textiles and investment pieces. The adult flying moths do not even have mouths to feed - their sole purpose in their short life is to reproduce and lay eggs to carry on the life cycle. So, to answer the question ‘how long do clothes moths live?’, only a few weeks in adult form.
What do moths hate?
Clothes moths hate light and being disturbed - their ideal location is with a plentiful food source for their larvae to eat (keratin, being the protein in animal based fibres), darker locations like closets, drawers and under furniture, which are also good locations for them to remain free to go through their lifecycle stages. Other likely locations that avoid what clothes moths hate are attics and spare bedrooms that are rarely used.
What is the best moth repellent?
The best repellent is usually strong lavender or lemongrass. Cedar has traditionally been used as a moth repellent but it has a less pronounced scent and that scent fades over time, quite quickly. This can be artificially boosted by use of cedar essential oil, but is a laborious process for cedar furniture. So, we would recommend the best moth repellent being lavender or lemongrass, but we would also advise pairing this with moth traps outside the closets to monitor for moth activity.
What do clothes moths look like?
Clothes moths look like small gold coloured moths mainly - the most common species being the webbing clothes moth. Despite the name though their larvae will attack any animal based fibres including carpets and curtains, soft furnishings as well as clothes. The case-bearing moth also comes under the common term ‘clothes moths’ and behaves in a similar way in terms of what their larvae eat. To see what clothes moths look like we would suggest taking a look at our Clothes Moth Identification Guide.
What kills moths?
To answer the question “What kills moths” it is important to distinguish between the adult flying moths and their larvae that hatch from the eggs laid on clothes, carpets and home textiles. For adult moths we recommend pantry or clothes moth traps (it is critical to identify the species you are dealing with before buying moth traps because the pheromones differ for each type). IN addition, a ‘knock-down’ spray or fogger will also have an instant impact. However, our clothes moth traps will last 3 months before they need to be replenished with refill strips and offer continuous monitoring. For clothes moth larvae that have actually caused you damage, we would recommend reading our 10 Steps to Clothes Moth Control or 10 steps to Pantry Moth Control resources to understand what is required - moth traps are part of the solution, but a much more intensive cleaning regime and treatments are required to ensure you kill moths completely and be sure you have dealt with the moth infestation.
How do i get rid of moths in my wardrobe?
For you to get rid of moths in your closet will initially require you to assess whether they have laid eggs and there is a presence of clothes moth larvae. If there is no damage, you may be able to reduce the incidence of clothes moths over time by trapping the adult males and taking them out of the breeding cycle - this reduces the population of clothes moths and allows you to monitor the catch rate which should also be progressively reducing. If you have damage to clothing then you will likely have an infestation where the clothes moths have laid their eggs, the eggs have hatched and the emerging larvae are feasting on your investment pieces and / or precious home textiles. In this case, to get rid of clothes moths in your closet you will need to perform a much more intensive clear out, cleaning process and clothes moth treatment. In this case please read our article 10 Steps to Clothes Moth Control.
Why do moths eat clothes?
Clothes moths themselves do not eat; it is their larvae that have emerged from the eggs laid by adult, mated, female clothes moths that eat the protein (keratin) in animal based fibres - they will generally not be attracted to cotton or synthetic fibres. The clothes moth larvae eat clothes that are made from animal based fibres - think cashmere, wool, silk, feathers, fur and soft leather.
How to get rid of moths naturally?
It is important to understand that to get rid of moths naturally will take longer than using pesticide treatments but can be done with patience. If there are only adult clothes or pantry moths flying in your home, then moth traps will likely achieve this over time as they take the male moths out of the breeding cycle and reduce the population progressively. However, if you have damage to clothing or home textiles, or an infestation in your pantry, you will need to take fast action on clearing out and treating infested clothing or foods, and then thoroughly cleaning the location of the infestation to eliminate any remaining eggs or larvae. Continue to defend through the use of moth traps and natural repellents. If you need to get rid of moths naturally when your carpets that have been infested, consider use of our natural carpet moth killer kits.
What temperature kills clothes moths?
Extremely high or freezing conditions are temperatures that kill clothes moths. We always recommend that either dry cleaning or deep freezing infested clothes and / or home textiles for 72 hours should kill any eggs and larvae present. While extremely high temperatures can kill clothes moths and it may be a process that can be conducted through heat treatments by a professional pest controller, it is not something that you can achieve at home on your own.
Clothes in the freezer to kill moths - how long?
We often get asked ‘how long do you freeze clothes infested by clothes moths?’. Firstly, we make it clear that the target is to kill eggs and larvae of clothes moths as rarely will you find the adult moths on your clothes. Secondly, we strongly recommend that you wrap your clothes and seal them in plastic bags before placing them in your freezer. In terms of how long they should be in your freezer, we would say at least 72 hours to ensure the eggs and larvae are killed.
Do moth balls kill moths?
Moth balls do kill moths in an enclosed environment such as closets and drawers but are meant to target the eggs and larvae of clothes moths. They will not work in the same way in an open space and will not affect adult flying moths unless they end up in the enclosed space with moth balls. To be clear, we do NOT recommend the use of naphthalene moth balls - they are highly toxic, carcinogenic and highly flammable.
Is a Pheromone Moth Trap The Same as a Clothes Moth Trap?
A pheromone moth trap is a generic name for a moth trap which uses moth pheromones to attract and catch moths. Clothes moth traps are a specific type of pheromone trap for moths. For that reason they can also be referred to as clothes moth pheromone traps and various other names such as:
- Wool Moth Trap
- Casemaking Moth Trap
- Webbing Clothes Moth Trap
- Textile Moth Trap
- Clothing Moth Trap
- Closet Moth Trap
- Bedroom Moth Trap
- Phermone Moth Traps
- Moth Traps
- Cloth Moth Trap
- Cloths Moth Traps
- Indoor Moth Trap
- Clothing Moth Box Traps
- House moth trap
- Moth Catcher Trap
- And many more!
In Summary:
MothPrevention® Clothes Moth Traps work through being impregnated with a blend of different natural female moth pheromone attractants impregnated into the sticky moth trap surface. Adult Male Clothes Moths are attracted to the glue strip and become stuck to it.
- 3 Moth Traps in the Pack
- Catches a broad range of Clothes Moths & Carpet Moths
- Natural, non toxic and safe moth traps to use in the home
- Pheromone attractant covers entire glue strip
- 3x the surface area of the Demi Diamond Trap
- 3 Month moth catcher trap life span
- The Best performing Clothes Moth Traps on the market and exclusive to MothPrevention®
About MothPrevention®
MothPrevention® speak to customers every day about their clothes moth issues - clothes moths are a species that are ever increasing and that can cause significant damage to clothes, carpets and other home textiles.
To date, we’ve helped over 100,000 customers deal with their clothes moth problems.
We have developed professional grade solutions including proprietary pheromones, not available from anybody else in the UK, and engineered in Germany to the highest production standards.
