Controlling Clothes Moths

Spotting a small moth fluttering around your closet then discovering damaged fabric or other items can be shocking. Upon further inspection, you may even see the silken webs spun by the larvae, or the droppings they leave behind.

Clothes moth larvae attack wool clothing, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, furs, and much more. They will even feed on synthetic or cotton blends of fabric if they also contain wool.

Sometimes people mistake clothes moths for pantry pests (food and grain-infesting moths). Clothes moths are small, about ¼ long, and only flutter about the area they have infested, typically around around bedrooms and where clothes are stored. Pantry pest moths are larger, and usually found around the kitchen and pantry where food is stored.

If you believe you have clothes moths in your house, read about management techniques at UC IPM Pest Notes: Clothes Moths.