Moths
Lepidoptera (various families)
Moths are fabric and food pests that damage clothing, carpets, and stored pantry goods. The larvae cause the damage by feeding on natural fibers like wool and silk or stored grains and dried foods.
Moth Identification Guide
Physical Characteristics
Moths are winged insects in the order Lepidoptera. Pest moths that infest homes are generally small, measuring 6-25mm in wingspan. Unlike the large, colorful moths attracted to porch lights, household pest moths are small, dull-colored, and often avoid light. They have narrow wings with fringed edges and tend to flutter close to the ground or walls.
Adult moths have reduced mouthparts and may not feed at all during their short adult lives. Their sole purpose is to mate and lay eggs. The larvae (caterpillars) cause all the damage by feeding on fabrics or stored foods.
Common Species
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Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella): Small golden-tan moths about 6-7mm long. Larvae spin silken tubes as they feed on wool and other natural fibers.
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Casemaking Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella): Grayish-brown with dark spots. Larvae build portable cases from fabric fibers.
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Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella): The most common pantry moth. Adults have distinctive two-toned wings with copper-colored outer portions.
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Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella): Gray moths that infest flour and grain products.
Moth Behavior and Biology
Moths undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The lifecycle ranges from 2 months to over 2 years depending on species, temperature, and food availability.
Female moths lay eggs near food sources. Clothes moths lay eggs on wool, silk, fur, and feathers. Pantry moths lay eggs directly on or near stored food products. Eggs hatch in 4-10 days under warm conditions.
Larvae are the damaging stage. They feed continuously, molting multiple times before pupating. Clothes moth larvae prefer soiled fabrics containing sweat, food stains, or body oils. Pantry moth larvae tunnel through grains, cereals, and dried foods, leaving behind silk webbing and frass.
Pupation occurs in silk cocoons, often in hidden locations like fabric folds or crevices. Adults emerge in 1-4 weeks and live only 2-4 weeks, focused entirely on reproduction.
How We Treat for Moths
Moth control requires identifying the species, locating the source, and treating all life stages.
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Thorough inspection: We identify whether you have clothes moths, pantry moths, or both. We locate the infestation source and check all potential breeding sites.
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Source elimination: For pantry moths, infested food products must be discarded. For clothes moths, affected items are cleaned, frozen, or treated with heat.
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Treatment application: We apply targeted treatments to areas where larvae develop. This includes closet floors and shelves for clothes moths, and pantry shelving for food moths.
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Monitoring: Pheromone traps help track moth activity and confirm when the infestation is eliminated.
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Prevention guidance: We provide recommendations for proper storage, cleaning practices, and ongoing prevention.
References and Further Reading
Types of Moths
Click on any species below to learn more about identification, behavior, and control methods.
Armyworms
Spodoptera frugiperda
Armyworms are destructive caterpillars that can devastate lawns and turf grass in just a few days, moving across yards in large groups like an army.
View identification guide
Bagworms
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Bagworms are moth larvae that construct distinctive spindle-shaped bags from silk and plant debris. They are destructive landscape pests that can defoliate and kill evergreen trees and shrubs.
View identification guide
Carpet Moths
Tineola bisselliella
Carpet moths are fabric-destroying pests whose larvae feed on wool carpets, rugs, and other natural fiber floor coverings. These small, golden-tan moths cause significant damage to carpeting and textiles when left unchecked.
View identification guide
Casemaking Clothes Moth
Tinea pellionella
The casemaking clothes moth is a fabric-damaging pest whose larvae create distinctive portable silk cases as they feed on wool, fur, and other natural fibers. These secretive insects avoid light and can cause significant damage to clothing and textiles before being detected.
View identification guide
Clothes Moths
Tineola bisselliella & Tinea pellionella
Clothes moths are small, fabric-damaging insects whose larvae feed on wool, silk, fur, and other natural fibers. These secretive pests avoid light and can cause extensive damage to clothing and household textiles before being detected.
View identification guide
Cutworms
Noctuinae (various species)
Cutworms are the larvae of several species of night-flying moths. These caterpillars hide in soil during the day and emerge at night to feed on plant stems, often cutting young seedlings at the soil line.
View identification guide
Fall Webworms
Hyphantria cunea
Fall webworms are caterpillars that create large, silky web nests on tree branches in late summer and fall, often defoliating ornamental and shade trees.
View identification guide
Inchworms
Geometridae (family)
Inchworms are the caterpillar larvae of geometer moths, named for their distinctive looping movement that appears to measure distances as they crawl. These common garden pests feed on tree and shrub foliage across North America.
View identification guide
Spongy Moths
Lymantria dispar
Spongy moths are one of the most destructive forest pests in North America. Their caterpillars defoliate hundreds of tree species, causing significant damage to forests, landscapes, and urban trees throughout the eastern United States and Canada.
View identification guide
Tent Caterpillars
Malacosoma spp.
Tent caterpillars are hairy moth larvae known for building distinctive silk tents in tree branches. These colonial caterpillars can defoliate ornamental and fruit trees during spring infestations.
View identification guide
Tomato Hornworms
Manduca quinquemaculata
Tomato hornworms are large green caterpillars that feed on tomato, pepper, and eggplant. They are the larval stage of the five-spotted hawk moth and can quickly defoliate garden plants.
View identification guide
Webbing Clothes Moth
Tineola bisselliella
The webbing clothes moth is the most common and destructive fabric pest worldwide. These small, golden-tan moths avoid light and their larvae cause significant damage to wool, silk, fur, and other natural fiber items stored in dark, undisturbed areas.
View identification guide
Webworms
Hyphantria cunea / Crambidae spp.
Webworms are caterpillar larvae of moths that create distinctive silken webs on trees and lawns. Fall webworms damage ornamental trees while sod webworms destroy turfgrass.
View identification guideCommon Questions about Moths
What types of moths damage homes?
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Two main groups of moths cause problems in homes. Clothes moths damage wool, silk, fur, and other natural fibers. Pantry moths infest stored foods like grains, cereals, flour, and dried fruits. In both cases, the larvae cause the damage, not the adult moths.
How do I know if I have moths?
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For clothes moths, look for irregular holes in wool clothing, silken webbing on fabrics, and small cream-colored larvae. For pantry moths, check for webbing in food containers, small caterpillars in dry goods, and adult moths flying near ceilings in the kitchen.
Do moths bite humans?
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No, moths do not bite humans. Adult moths have reduced mouthparts and often do not feed at all. The damage they cause is strictly to fabrics and stored foods.
How do moths get into my house?
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Clothes moths can enter on infested clothing, furniture, or textiles from thrift stores and storage facilities. Pantry moths typically come in with purchased food products that were infested at the store or warehouse.
How long does it take to get rid of moths?
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Moth control typically takes 2-3 months due to their lifecycle. Larvae can survive for months and pupae resist many treatments. Consistent cleaning, proper storage, and sometimes professional treatment are needed to break the cycle.
Can I prevent moth infestations?
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Yes. For clothes moths, clean items before storage, use airtight containers, and inspect secondhand items. For pantry moths, store dry goods in sealed containers, check groceries before storing, and use older products first.
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With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that's been protecting homes for over 57 years.
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