What Do Carpet Moth Eggs Look Like

Carpet moth larvae feed predominately on keratin found in natural fibres such as wool and so can live on any carpet with some wool content.

What do carpet moth eggs look like.

The most common clothes moths are the webbing clothes moth easily identified with a golden colour and around half an inch in length and the case bearing moth which can be identified about inch long and their forewings are mottled brown with one large and a few. The carpet tapestry moth does not only feed on carpet but will also eat clothing fur animal skin and any textiles or upholstery made of natural fibres. Adult case bearing carpet moth. Clothes moth adults do not feed so they cause no injury to fabrics.

Carpet moths and their larvae like warm humid environments. There are said to be 160 000 species of moths. They are also called tapestry moths. Carpet moth larvae only eat keratin the protein in natural animal based fibres they will not eat cotton and synthetic fabrics unless they are heavily soiled in food or sweat.

However the adults lay about 40 50 pinhead sized eggs on vulnerable substrates which in turn hatch into the fabric eating larvae. This will remove any eggs which may be in or on your carpet as well as clean up any hair skin or food debris which the larvae need to survive. Look for signs of damage in woollens silk and any feather fur or soft leather items. It wouldn t have been a concern for us if some of these species weren t called carpet moths.

Carpet moth a k a trichophaga tapetzella is from a family of moths called tineidae. Alamy rather confusingly most of these moth species will sometimes switch from carpets to clothes and chew any natural fabrics like cotton wool and silk. Identifying clothes carpet moths webbing clothes moth case bearing clothes moth. Carpet behind or beneath furniture can go untouched for months or even years allowing infestations to grow.

Casemaking clothes moths are similar in appearance but have dark specks on the wings. Carpet fibres are the perfect place for clothes moths to lodge their eggs and for larvae to hide. The carpet moth is a common household textile pest. Household dirt that collects in carpet provides a keratin rich food course for clothes moth larvae.

A carpet moth infestation can be a costly problem as it can cause serious and often irreperable damage to carpets rugs and other soft furnishings in the home. Step 5 eradicating carpet moth eggs and carpet moth larvae.