Moths & Caterpillars

Moths

Moths Control from Live helper

Protecting your home from Moths:

While moths do not pose a health risk, they are a pest in homes because of the severe damage their larvae cause to clothes, fabrics, furs, leather and carpets.

This damage may continue for many weeks after moth caterpillars have hatched – serious harm may have been done before numbers of flying moths are seen and so prevention of a moth problem is important.

While a minor infestation of moths can be dealt with using DIY products, an established moth problem is likely to require professional assistance.

Signs of a moth problem:

Often the first sign of a moth problem will be damage to fabrics but there will usually be other indicators:

• adult moths (often crawling rather than flying)
• maggot-like larvae (moth caterpillars)
• the silken tubes or cases in which moth larvae live
• pupae (silk cocoons) in which larvae turn into moths

Please note, another common cause of damage to carpets or fur may be due to Fur Beetles or Carpet Beetles rather than moths. Please refer to our guide to carpet beetles for further information.

Identifying Moths:

There are four common species of moth infestation in the home:

Common clothes Moth:

Case-Bearing clothes Moth:

Brown house Moth:

White-shouldered house Moth:

How to keep Moth problem away:

It is difficult to keep moths from entering an open window or door, although it is advisable to draw the curtains or use a fly screen when windows are open at night when moths will be attracted to lights.

Once inside, moths lay eggs in dark and rarely disturbed areas where clothes or other textiles are stored.

High risk areas include spare rooms, under beds and infrequently used cupboards or wardrobes. Lofts are also at risk because moths are attracted to bird nests that may be in the eaves of the house.

Dirty or soiled clothing is particularly attractive to moths, so always clean clothes before storing them.

Where textiles are to be stored for a period of time, keep them in sealed plastic bags or suitcases.

Ensure hidden areas such as under furniture are regularly vacuumed to remove moth eggs before they hatch. This is particularly important if there has been a previous infestation or if you have noticed increased levels of moth activity.

DIY Moth control:

Moth balls containing naphthalene were the traditional preventative treatment for moths.  However, we do not endorse using these products because of the chemicals used and the residual odours they produce.

Professional Moth control:

While DIY products can deal with smaller moth infestations, a professional pest control service will be required for larger or repeat infestations.

Live helper technicians have powerful insecticides to deal with moths and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.

Live helper Pest Control offers a call-out service to treat moths or any other pest problem in the home.  The service is fast, effective and affordable.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit from one of our service technicians, call us free on 9880778889

Caterpillars

Appearance:

• Their size varies from 1 mm to about 8 cm.
• Usually caterpillars have tubular, segmented bodies.
• Often cryptically coloured to resemble the plants on which they feed.
• Many have developed urticating hairs - bristles connected to venom glands; the effect on humans ranges from mild irritation to dermatitis.

Lifecycle:

• Caterpillars eat their way through the shell (sometimes they eat the whole shell to provide energy).
• Then they start to feed voraciously and grow through a series of moults (usually 4-6); each stage is called an instar.
• Finally, they usually construct a protective cocoon to pupate in.
• Some caterpillars spin leaves to form a cocoon or create 'chambers' from bark and wood.

Habits:

• Very voracious.
• Most caterpillars are herbivorous, a few feed on detritus. Predatory ones consume eggs of other insects, aphids, scale insects, or ant larvae.
• They are mostly nocturnal