The clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) is one of the most feared material pests. Its yellow-white larvae cause the actual damage to fabrics, furs and carpets. Above all clothing which has not been worn for some time is affected.

The clothes moth grows to about 4 to 9 mm long, and can easily be recognised from its shiny golden yellow front wings.

Another type of pest, the storage pest, are the food moths, e.g. the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), which attacks stocks of food. Their larvae eat round holes in grains of wheat, rice and maize. The larvae of the lead-grey flour moth (Ephestria kuehniella) also feed on flour products. Besides this they soil and spin webs on large quantities of food. A single female flour moth can lay 200 eggs up to four times per year.

The infested food is covered in cobwebs, tastes bitter, and may harm the health of humans and animals.

Preventive measures and control

Clothes moths

• Never leave clothing damp and/or uncleaned for a lengthy period in a cupboard.
• Regularly vacuum-clean, brush or beat clothes.
• Regularly vacuum-clean infested wardrobes and bed box frames, and as a preventive measure vacuum-clean thoroughly at least twice a year.
• Lavender, cedar wood and ethereal oils are only of limited help. They may repel some of the moths, but they have no affect on the greedy larvae.
• Use insecticides (Moth Paper, Moth Bag)

Food moths

• Never store flour, grain, dough and pastry in damp conditions
• Thoroughly vacuum-clean infested cupboards, including the shelves, and remove any lining paper
• Keep food which still looks edible in a deep freezer for three days

The basic rule is:

• Contaminated foodstuffs, which are usually inedible for hygienic reasons, often have to be thrown away completely.