How to Control Moths and Other Damaging Insects

How to Control Moths and Other Damaging Insects

The larvae of some insects, such as the Carpet Beetle, Clothes moth , House Moth and Silverfish can damage your fine textiles and rugs. The larvae of these insects like to feast on wool and the organic soiling materials that are attracted to wool. The infestation period can run from a couple of months to years.

The best way to prevent damage on rugs that are used on the floor is to vacuum frequently the front and back, and have them professionally cleaned on a periodic basis.

If rugs are to be stored for any extended length of time, they should first be cleaned and then mothproofed. Many people use mothballs, but the odor is objectionable and hard to get rid of. The use of cedar chips and cedar-lined closets and chests work very well. You must, however, refresh the cedar from time to time by rubbing with sandpaper. The rug should then be wrapped in Tyvek®, which breathes, rather than plastic or paper. The rugs should next be placed in an area safe from moisture and rodents.

Rugs and weavings that are hanging on walls are particularly susceptible to insect infestation. These should receive the same periodic care as the floor weavings.

If damage or evidence of infestation is discovered on your rugs, send your rugs to us to be cleaned and treated with our odorless moth proofing solution Moth Guard™.

CLOTHES MOTH

This is the name designated for a variety of moth species (Tineola bisselliella - largest species). The damaging caterpillar stage from these moths eats cotton, silk, wool and other natural fibers. They require Vitamin B as a nutrient. Soiling, urine, perspiration, and other soiling can provide this nutrient. Keeping your natural fiber rugs clean can slow down the process. Treatment with MothGuard can reduce or prevent it entirely. These moths are present virtually everywhere. The adult is tan colored with a wing span of approximately 1". They develop in warm humid conditions. Dry storage and Cold storage help retard the infestation process. The use of such products as MothGuard™ also reduces or prevents infestation. The female lays her eggs within 1-2 weeks after she emerges. She dies one month after laying the eggs. The eggs usually hatch in 5 weeks.

BLACK CARPET BEETLE

This as the most abundant and widespread of the carpet beetles and is the species which causes the greatest damage to fabrics and other keratin containing articles throughout most of the United States.
Adults are shiny black with brownish legs, and grow to a length of 1/8- to 3/ 16-inch.
Eggs hatch in 6 to 11 days in warm weather.
Body color varies from a light brown to almost black.
They can develop under a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions, and are much less susceptible to environmental changes than are clothes moths.
They are frequently found outdoors in flowers and are most numerous in the spring and early summer.
They lay eggs either indoors or outdoors, beginning 4 to 8 days after the adult emerges.
Each female lays approximately 50 eggs over a period of about 3 weeks, after which she dies.
Indoors, these eggs are deposited in accumulations of lint, in air ducts, underneath baseboards and other similar places.