Fabric Pest Inspection and Control Measures

Beetles and Moths

The group of insects known as fabric pests includes silverfish, clothes moths and carpet beetles. Except for silverfish, the main food sought by fabric pests is a protein substance called Keratin present in fibres of animal origin such as wool, and even human hair.

Silverfish prefer substances of plant origin such as cotton cellulose and starch.

Cloth Moths or Pantry Pests?

Fabric pests like cloth moths are sometimes confused with pantry pest moths. They are close in size and appearance. Many times an infestation can start in a grain or meal product, but cloth moths will travel to your closet areas to infest the preferred source of woolens, ect.

Pantry moths will stay in the pantry areas. Check corners, under furniture that has not been moved for a long time, behind baseboards, etc.

Why Fabric Pest Eat Clothes

Fabric-destroying insects cause much damage each year by eating vulnerable fabrics. Materials which are readily infested, include sweaters, coats, upholstery, piano felts, blankets and any other woolen products. Furs, hair, leathers and hides, feathers, horns, insect and animal collections and such stored foods as meat, fish, meal and milk products are also vulnerable to these insects. Synthetic fibers and cellulose materials are damaged only incidentally, often because they are soiled with greasy food stains, body oils, or other residues which are the primary object of the insect attack. Fabric pests are a pest nuisance because of their ability to digest and utilize keratin as an energy source. Keratin is the chief protein constituent of such human tissues as hair, fingernails and skin. In other mammals, keratin is the chief structural protein in horns, hoofs, and feathers. Keratin is a protein which is quite stable chemically and is very resistant to most means of digestion. Few animals are able to digest keratin, and these include only a relatively small number of insects. This peculiar ability to digest keratin, coupled with our widespread use of wool and other animal hair, is the basis of fabric pest problems in our societies.

Inspection

A complete inspection is necessary before beginning any control measures.

 

It is important to remember that adults do not cause the damage, but the larvae do. The presence of adults in an area, doesn't mean that larvae are nearby, in that they may have laid their eggs in another room, and adults are randomly moving around. Carpet beetle larvae tend to wander, so consider additional sites.

Guidelines To Inspect For Cloth Moth and Carpet Beetle Infestations.

How to Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles & Cloth Moths

Inspection

A complete inspection of the closets and other areas is the first order of business. The soiled garments, particularly woolens, silks and linens need to be dry cleaned or laundered.

Vacuum and Clean

After the inspection, critical areas should receive the special attention by cleaning and vacuuming. The insecticides will kill exposed adults and larvae; the concern would be hidden eggs and larvae.

In carpets, clean and vacuum around the cracks and crevices of baseboards. In furniture, vacuum and clean around the buttons, zippers and seams.

Cloth Moth Control

 

Cloth Moth Traps

Taking clothes to the dry cleaning, laundering, vaucuuming and cleaning are the primary ways of getting rid of cloth moths.

 

An excellent pheromone trap for clothes moths is the:
X Lure Cloth Moth Trap with a pheromone to attract the adult moths. Please make sure that they are cloth moths traps before using. Cloth Moth traps only trap the webbing cloth moths, not the casemaking cloth moths. The webbing cloth moth is the most common cloth moth. This pheromone trap has a sex hormone to attract the male webbing cloth moths. Use this trap in closets or areas where the clothes are stored. If you do catch cloth moths, always follow up with dry cleaning, vacuuming and cleaning. Currently, there are no special pheromones for the casemaking cloth moths, but we have found that this trap sometimes catches casemaking cloth moths.

 

Chemical Treatments for Cloth Moths

Aerosols : You can use an aerosol like Phantom or Zenprox with its crack and crevice tips if you wish a chemical treatment. For most control, the inspection and cleaning is the most critical for successful elimination of cloth moths.

Insecticide Concentrates: D-Fense SC would be a good insecticide for spot or crack and crevice treatments. It is odorless and it has a broad label to use against other common household insects.

 

Carpet Beetle Control

 

Chemical Treatments For Carpet Beetles

Infested rugs, carpets, and furniture should be cleaned thoroughly and protected with a residual insecticide application.

Use Aerosols: An aerosol with a crack and crevice tip would be recommended after cleaning and vacuuming. Spray the cracks and crevices of infested areas.We recommend Zenprox Aerosol.

Zenprox Aerosol is a reduced risk, botanical insecticide in an aerosol form. It is also a non-repellent, the carpet beetles do not know it is present. Zenprox can be used for other insects.

Use of Insecticide Concentrates: A residual insecticide concentrate such as D-Fense SC would be a good choice for spot treatments or spraying broader areas. D-Fense is a great all around insecticide and odorless.

Insect Growth Regulators: It is not our recommendation to use insect growth regulators( IGR's), like Gentrol IGR, because it extends the larvae stage of the carpet beetle. The larvae stage is what does all the damage.

Always keep pets and children off the wet surface until it dries.

Occasional Dusting: Dusting can be messy, but can get into the cracks and crevices. If you did dust , use CimeXa Dust with a hand duster like a Bellow Duster.

Prevent Cloth Moths and Carpet Beetles

Prevention is the best control. A thorough vacuum cleaning of rugs and furniture removes lint and pet hair as well as some of the larvae.

Stored clothing should be kept in tightly closed containers.

More on Prevention

 

 

Temperature Control

Sensitive items, such as museum pieces, wall mountings, furs, taxidermy mounts, etc., might require vaults fumigation or treatment with temperature control.

Major pest control companies do have chambers for this type of control.