While they are harmless, moths are certainly a nuisance. From flying around your house at night to the damage done to clothes, carpets and curtains, they are not a very welcome visitor.
With the last few weeks of hot weather, many people may have spotted more around the house, and there is a reason for that.: simply put, according to experts, moths are much less active in winter.
They tend to spend the colder months in dark and undisturbed places in our homes. Then in spring, as the days become longer and warmer, they come out of hiding with one goal: to reproduce. David Cross, from pest control firm Rentokil, said: "Higher temperatures have been known to accelerate clothes moths’ reproductive cycles, making infestations more likely to occur."
Mr Cross added: "If you can count five to six moths in a room, then it’s likely you are experiencing a serious infestation. Washing clothes at high temperatures or having them dry cleaned are practical methods to help remove moth larvae from clothing. However, this may not address the entire population."
Where is a moth infestation most likely to occur?
According to the experts, an infestation is likely to take place in three main places:
- Underneath beds - especially one that's not used much, such as a spare bed
- Cupboards, drawers and wardrobes that aren't used regularly
- Lofts and attics where they can be drawn to birds nests
How do I know when I have a moth problem?
Obviously you could notice a few holes in your clothes, but there are also a few other things to look out for if you're worried about the amount of moths you see flying around. According to Rentokil, these include:
- Small maggot-like larvae (also known as moth caterpillars)
- Silken tubes or 'cases' that home the moth larvae
- Pupae (silk cocoons) which is where the larvae eventually emerge as adult moths
Adult moths that are seen crawling as opposed to flying
How do I prevent moths in my home?
It can be difficult to totally keep them away, but you can do a few things to limit the chance of an infestation. Apart from taking all steps possible to prevent them from coming inside, there are also a few repellents you can buy to aid the problem.
Ensuring your curtains are drawn at night will prevent moths coming in through doors and windows. Getting the vacuum out regularly will also help to ease the problem, as it will help to remove any moth eggs before they're given the chance to hatch.
If you want to store any textiles for quite a long time the best thing to do is cover them with bags to prevent moths getting access to them. And, finally, moths love dirty things so make sure clothes are thoroughly cleaned before putting them away to limit the chance of moths being attracted to them.
How do I get rid of moths from my house?
If it becomes a real problem, it's probably best to contact the pest control service for proper advice. As well as that, there are a few things you can do yourself to reduce the amount of moth larvae in your house. These things include:
- regularly changing vacuum bags to ensure any potential eggs are removed from the property
- regularly washing all fabrics to make sure everything is always as clean as possible
- ensuring you always clean clothes before putting them back in your cupboard - female moths love to lay eggs on clothes stained with sweat or urine
- if you think any of your furniture has been affected by moths, wash it down
- clean out your suitcases where eggs or larvae could be hiding
- make sure all rooms around the home are dry and well-ventilated
