Spring Pest Spotlight: Get rid of the moths in your home

Increasingly moist weather will be bringing moths out in droves. Native moths may be harmless; however, there are moths that cause damage to everyday household items.

What causes moths in the house?

Managing moth infestations are not easy. There’s a variety of common household moths, each with different attractants.  The three common pest moths are:

1. Wood Decay Moths are attracted to timber and light. These moths lay their eggs on decaying timber around the home and once hatched, the larvae will feed on fungus growing on the wood. These moths often swarm around light sources.
2. Pantry Moths are attracted to dry foods, like grains, flour, dried fruit, biscuits, seeds, nuts, powdered milk and more! We recommend keeping an eye out for these moths. You’ll find them inside food packaging, resting on the surface of the food or inside the food source, if there are eggs/larvae present
3. Clothes Moths are attracted to woolens and natural fibres. They cause holes in your woolen garments, furniture, carpet, curtains and other pieces of clothing. These moths can also leave stains on fabric.

Understanding their attractants will give you a better idea as to why moths are attracted to your home. Now that you know, the next step is ridding of and repelling them.

How do I get rid of moths in my house?

The following four steps will help minimise the moths in your home:

• Don’t keep boxes of clothes in dark areas like the basement, garage or attic.
• Close all cracks/openings in fly screens and front/backdoors.
• Turn indoor lights off when not in use as not to attract moths inside.
• Regularly vacuum the home ensuring food crumbs, hair, dead insects and other rubbish are removed from surfaces.

If your moth infestation is concentrated in the pantry, consider the following steps:

• Before storing your dry foods in the pantry, freeze them for 3-4 days.
• Remove and properly dispose of packaging and seal foods in airtight containers.
• Keep your kitchen and food storage areas well ventilated.
• Inspect incoming dry foods as moths may be trapped inside food packaging during manufacturing.
• Seal off moth hiding places like cracks/crevices in your cupboard/pantry.

If your moth infestation is concentrated in closets, consider the following steps:

• Remove clothes from your closet and thoroughly clean the interior.
• Mothballs can discourage pests from devouring fabric, but note that the smell may need a dry cleaning session to remove.
• Before storage, all natural fibres and wool should be cleaned in accordance with instructions on the label.
• When returning your clothes into the closet, cover/wrap natural fibre clothing items with individual plastic sheets or covers prior to storage. We recommend plastic cases with large zippers for storage.

Do you have a serious moth problem?

For any serious and reoccurring moth infestations, we recommend contacting Flick Anticimex at 1300 270 019.

About Flick Anticimex

The modern pest control company. Through prevention, new technology, and sustainable solutions, we meet the new demands for healthy environments, for both individuals and businesses. Anticimex employs around 4,400 people, with 3 million customers worldwide, and a 2016 revenue of $716 million (AUD).