Clothes moths are small textile pests that can cause significant damage to clothing, carpets, upholstery and other natural fibres. They can be particularly difficult to detect because the adult moths are small and the damaging larvae often remain hidden within fabrics.

How Do You Know If You Have Clothes Moths?

Signs of clothes moth activity can include:

Small holes or areas of damage in wool, fur, silk and other natural fabrics
Irregular patches of damage rather than clean holes
Larvae or silk webbing in clothing and textiles
Small cases or cocoons around infested materials
Adult clothes moths around dark, undisturbed areas

Unlike many household pests, it is the larvae that cause the damage, not the adult moths.

Where Do Clothes Moths Hide?

Clothes moths prefer dark, quiet and undisturbed areas. Check wardrobes, cupboards, storage boxes, carpets, upholstered furniture and areas where clothing or textiles are rarely moved.

Particular attention should be paid to natural materials such as wool, fur, feathers and other animal-derived fibres.

Monitoring Clothes Moths

Early detection is important when dealing with clothes moths. Pheromone monitoring traps can help detect adult male moth activity and provide an indication of whether clothes moths are present.

Monitoring can be particularly useful in homes, commercial premises, museums, heritage buildings and other environments where valuable textiles need protection.

Sentomol provides specialist pest-monitoring solutions designed to help identify and monitor clothes moth activity.

Looking for a way to monitor clothes moths? Explore Sentomol’s clothes moth monitoring and control products.