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Invasion of the Carpet Moths

November 6, 2012 by  
Filed under Home Maintenance, Pest Control

If you notice small balding patches in the corners and at the edges of your carpets, the chances are that you have an infestation issue. This is a problem that needs immediate attention because it will continue to get worse. Carpet moths are stubborn when it comes to leaving.

In the last few years we seeing more and more severe infestations. This is not a problem connected to dirty environments, indeed they actually seem to be quite discerning where they dine!
Usually, the treatment is to loosen the carpets and spray underneath, and then to spray the carpet pile, thus ensuring the moths are thoroughly zapped! It is possible furniture may need treating too as this may be harbouring them (they find furniture equally delicious).

damage caused by carpet moth infestation

Look out for coloured grubs!

It is not uncommon to find grubs the same colour as your carpet fibres as this is what they have eaten. You must remember, wool is basically a protein coming directly off the bodies of living sheep.
Whilst polypropylene and nylon carpets are not natural dietary fibres, I have been told by customers in the course of my travels that moths have attacked them, although I have not seen this myself. The usual cause of this is human and pet residue on the synthetic fibres such as oils and hair.

https://www.tonymustoescarpets.co.uk/carpet-moths.html

What are Carpet Moths?

Carpet Moths, Case Bearing Moths, or Carpet Beetles are the creatures most commonly associated with damage to carpets, rugs and textile floorings. Holes in carpets, or threadbare patches where flooring has been eaten away is usually a sign of a carpet moth infestation. Below you will find a complete range of products and treatments to enable you to get rid of the pests once and for all.

Known as textile pests, like the clothes moth this species feeds predominantly on ‘keratin’, a substance found in natural fibres, which often results in damage to carpets or rugs containing wool or silk. Other materials they will feed on include cashmere, viscose, feathers and hides. Establishing exactly which type of infestation you have, whether it be Carpet Moths / Case Bearing Moths or Carpet Beetles is not particularly important, as the treatment process is very much the same, regardless of species.

Carpet Moths favour dark areas, with damage often being more evident underneath or behind heavy furniture. Having passed through the lifecycle stages of egg, pupa and larva and finally reaching adulthood, the fully developed moth rarely flies, but instead runs quite rapidly across floors, tending to avoid direct light.

Carpet Moths or Case Bearing Clothes Moths are usually dark buff in colour. The cases they shed during their life cycle can sometimes be found and are described as looking like grains of rice.

rice like life cycle cases of a carpet moth

What is the best carpet moth treatment?

Firstly, when dealing with an infestation it is important to ensure that you are applying the appropriate products, that they are suitable for carpet application and of course manufactured to a high standard.

In terms of ‘the best treatment’, carpet moth killer kits usually provide the best method and fastest route to total bug eradication. This is because they contain a combination of products which provide a crossover of active ingredients. This crossover is one of the key factors in effective pest control, as it provides a far better knockdown effect than that of a single product.

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