Carpet Beetles and Clothes Moths
Carpet Beetles are small and oval in shape.  The adult beetles feed on pollen while the larvae feed on lint, but can cause serious damage by feeding on animal fibres in clothing, carpet, upholstery and other household furnishing.  They don’t feed on synthetic furnishings.

Clothes Moths are small, yellowish to slightly gold-coloured moths with narrow, slightly pointed wings. They are not attracted to lights and usually hide when disturbed.

Clothes moths can feed on wool products, such as clothing, carpets, rugs, furs, fabrics, blankets, and piano felts. They may feed on fabrics of vegetable origin (cotton) if the fabrics are mixed with wool or soiled with food particles. Clothes moths can do serious damage to small or large wool rugs. The caterpillars can feed on the underside of the rug for a long time-doing considerable damage-before they are detected.

The most damage is done to clothing and fibre left undisturbed for a long time or to clothing soiled with beverages, urine, oil, and sweat.

CARPET BEETLE PREVENTION

To help prevent an infestation of carpet beetles the following steps can be completed
  • Regularly removing lint through vacuuming can help remove potential breeding sites.  Remember to focus on rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, shelves, closets, skirting boards, corners and floor cracks.  
  • Inspect all clothing and storage areas for potential infestations during Autumn and Spring.
  • Check all windows are screened to prevent the entry of the insects
  • Dry clean or wash all clothes before storage
  • Store clothes in tight boxes and chests - its not advisable to use plastic bags as over time the moisture may damage clothes.
  • Place mothballs (or something similar) in with clothes in storage - (dry clean the clothes when removing from storage to help remove the odour).
  • Ensure any wool or material scraps are stored properly.
  • If an infestation is only localised, you can simply remove the contaminated items to prevent the spreading of the insects.

CLOTHES MOTH PREVENTION


Clothes moths thrive in a similar environment to carpet beetles, however the following steps will help avoid an infestation of clothes moths.

  • Remove all lint, hair and dust from floor cracks, baseboards, air ducts, carpets and upholstered furniture.
  • Keep closets and dresser drawers clean
  • Regularly clean rugs, especially where they fit close to the baseboards.
  • Inspect stored foods and eliminate bird nests and dead rodents.
  •  Launder, dry clean or steam clothes and other items before storage.  Egg laying clothes moths are attracted to soiled items.
  • Ironing will destroy all stages of the clothes moths life cycle.
  • Constant light illumination in closets may discourage clothes moths.
  • Freezing has been successfully used to control clothes moths. Place fabric in polyethylene bags, squeeze all air out to minimize condensation, and deep freeze the materials for three days.

LIFE CYCLES


Carpet Beetles
The complete life cycle of a carpet beetle takes between nine and twelve months.  

Adult carpet beetles lay eggs near food sources and the larvae usually feed for around 6 months on the material.

The larvae then undergoes pupation (adult structures are formed and larval structures are broken down) for a period of approximately two or three weeks.  The adult carpet beetle then feeds on nectar or pollen.


Clothes Moths
The case-making clothes moth females live about 30 days and lays 100 to 300 eggs.  

The larvae stage lasts 50 or more days, and the pupal stage is passed in the case or cocoon.

Larvae spin a small silken case around themselves as they feed. This cigar-shaped case enlarges as the larva grows.

It does not spin a web of silk over the food material but eats clean-cut holes, not usually in one spot.

There are about two generations a year.
 

Services