The question of how to remove moths from an apartment is asked from time to time by many owners who have encountered this parasite. And this is not surprising, since the appearance of small flying butterflies is directly related to damage to things. At the same time, there are two types of moths and each of them will have its own diet - for some, wool and fur products are preferred, while others parasitize on cotton fabrics.
Habitats and parasitism
First, it’s worth finding out where moths start? This household pest prefers only natural materials, and accordingly, it will parasitize in close proximity to the following:
- firstly, it is a wardrobe, because it is there that luxurious fur coats, hats, woolen coats and other similar wardrobe items are carefully stored;
- secondly, moths may take a liking to the natural upholstery of your new sofa or chair; in this case, you should look for parasites in the folds and seams;
- thirdly, if there is a carpet woven from natural threads on the wall or floor, then the pest can parasitize on it, both from the inside and from the front.
On a note! The clothes moth is a poor flyer, so it is unable to move long distances on its own. Accordingly, you bring it into your home yourself: with new things, pieces of furniture, etc.
general characteristics
The insect looks like a small butterfly; there is no bright color or external distinctive features. The color of the pest depends on its habitat in order to better camouflage itself. Adults differ from butterflies in the absence of a proboscis. The moth does not feed on anything. It replenishes its energy reserves from accumulated substances while being a caterpillar. Its main task is reproduction. Moths do not harm humans.
They also leave excrement where they live. Adult pests are afraid of sunlight. Therefore, their place of residence is hidden and dark places.
We suggest you read: How to make a tincture from wax moth
Furniture moth and clothes moth: what is the difference?
Clothes moths and furniture moths will have their own separate diets - the first feeds on cotton products, the second on fur and wool. In nature, this is what happens, but in an apartment, each of these species can quite easily move from one food to another. Therefore, today these butterflies are collectively called clothes moths.
In fact, these insects have many similar characteristics:
- the body is small in size and length is no more than 9 mm;
- the color is straw-yellow, rather inconspicuous, especially with folded wings;
- Only males can fly, but representatives of both the first and second species do it rather ineptly;
- females of both species do not use wings, although they have the ability to fly; their wings are somewhat smaller in size compared to the wings of males.
Distinctive features can only be noticed upon closer examination - the furniture moth will have a darker color and dark areas at the base of the wings.
Moth larvae as the main pest
However, the greatest damage is caused not by winged insects, but by their larvae. It is the small caterpillars that parasitize in your sweaters, expensive fur coats and carpets; they are the ones who leave behind holes in clothes and furniture upholstery; they are the real household pests.
The growth and development of house moth larvae directly depends on diet and temperature conditions:
- if the food they absorb consists only of natural materials, then the development of the caterpillars will occur quite quickly - in 3 weeks they will have time to molt about 12 times and pupate;
- if the food is rich in synthetic fibers, which are very poorly digested, accordingly, the growth of the larvae will slow down somewhat - this period will take 2 months or even six months;
- As for temperature conditions, when the ambient temperature drops significantly, the rate of growth and development of young animals noticeably decreases, the caterpillars become smaller, and at especially low temperatures they weave cocoons around their body, stop feeding and freeze.
But if your apartment is cozy, warm and there is something to profit from, in particular, products made from natural materials, then moth caterpillars will feel great there. With their mandibles, which is the name of their oral apparatus, presented in the form of two large outgrowths, they deftly trim fabric fibers and wool. Thanks to powerful jaw muscles, the larvae quickly gnaw fairly large areas of matter and direct food into the stomach, from where it enters the intestines.
On a note! Compared to the body, the stomach and intestines of the larvae are enormous in size and can hold quite a large amount of food!
The larvae of clothes moths and furniture moths are somewhat different from each other.
Absolutely all larvae lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not crawl far from the place where they emerge from the egg. Until they turn into a butterfly, they spend almost all their time in one place. But as soon as the larva becomes an adult, it stops feeding and spends the rest of its life, which lasts only a few days, only on reproduction.
Appearance of a moth larva
Everyone can imagine a small fruit worm, which is often found in apples or other fruits that have not been treated with pesticides. This will allow you to understand what a moth larva looks like.
Appearance of a moth larva
The pest caterpillar is pale yellow in color, has 12 limbs and a darker head. The length can be from 6 to 12 mm. Thickness no more than 2 mm.
Fruit caterpillars and moth larvae are similar in appearance, so the presence of pests in the house is easier to notice by flying silvery moths.
Fighting methods
How to destroy moths in an apartment? For this purpose, you can use the following methods and means:
- heat treatment;
- chemicals;
- folk remedies.
Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Heat treatment
As is known, these insects are able to exist in a certain temperature range, which is -5°C ... +45°C. And if the thermometer scale crosses one of these, the moth is guaranteed to die. What can be done?
- If parasites have settled in your apartment during the cold season, then you can simply open the windows and freeze out all the pests in just a few hours. In this case, both adult butterflies and larvae are guaranteed to die.
Important! Don't forget that low temperatures can not only kill moths, but also damage the heating system! Therefore, the batteries must be protected first!
- Another method is to wash contaminated items at the maximum permissible temperature in automatic mode. But it is clear that this method is only suitable for clothing; furniture and carpets should be processed using industrial units.
- If moths have infested fur products, there are special refrigeration chambers for them.
On a note! It is useless to destroy only flying butterflies mechanically, that is, using a rolled-up newspaper or a slipper, since the main pest will remain in the clothes and continue to spoil them!
Chemicals
The best results in the fight against body parasites come from using insecticidal preparations specially created for this purpose. They are available in several types: aerosols, fumigators and repellent sections.
Aerosol
Anti-moth aerosol is the most convenient chemical preparation that is quite effective. With its help you can destroy both butterflies and small larvae. Each aerosol is based on a powerful toxic substance, but does not leave behind any unpleasant odor. Moreover, most of these products contain aromatic fragrances.
Using aerosol insecticides is very simple: spray the product on clothing, the inside of cabinets, carpets and upholstery. Modern preparations can rid your home of parasites in a short period of time and at the same time will be completely safe for fabrics - they will not leave any stains or unpleasant odors.
Important! It should be remembered that an aerosol cloud consists of tiny particles that can quickly and easily penetrate the respiratory tract. A high concentration of toxic substances often causes severe poisoning. Therefore, before using this or that anti-moth aerosol, you should carefully study the instructions and do not forget about personal protective equipment!
Among the aerosols against moths, the most popular are: “Moskitol”, “Armol”, “Antimol”, “Dezmol”, “Foxide”.
Fumigators
Fumigators are also quite effective in combating moths. There are two types of fumigators on sale: electric and pyrotechnic. The principle of their operation is largely similar - the first begin to emit toxic substances after the electrical plates are heated, the second emit toxic smoke after the spiral is set on fire.
The most popular moth fumigators today are: “Moskitol”, “Raid” and “Raptor”. In fact, they are designed to kill mosquitoes, but, as the manufacturer assures and practice shows, they are quite effective against moths. These devices are safe for human and pet health and do not leave any odor after use.
On a note! You can find two types of electric fumigators on sale: the first ones work on plates that need to be changed every time they are turned on, the second ones have a reservoir with liquid and this device lasts for a longer period!
Sections
Sections are the most primitive and at the same time simplest way to get rid of moths. These devices are small plates impregnated with a special substance that repels pests. The sections should simply be hung in a closed cabinet or placed on shelves. After some time the moth will disappear.
On sale today you can find a huge number of sections against moths. They have different shapes and aroma, which allows the consumer to choose a model to suit their taste. The sections “Raid”, “Raptor”, “Antimol”, “Gardex” and “Moskitol” are popular today.
Brief description of the family
Moths are insects closely related to butterflies, although they are not actually butterflies, except as a general definition, to which the term "moth" also applies. Meanwhile, both moths and butterflies belong to the same order of Lepidoptera, and this is where their similarities end. There are more differences between butterflies and moths than just dry entomological taxonomy. To date, researchers have identified about 200 thousand species of butterflies around the world, and we can say for sure that there are at least five times more known representatives among moths.
All species are characterized by a general structure of the body and vital processes. The antennae of moths, as a rule, are shorter than those of butterflies, and along their length you can find shaggy “branching”, strongly reminiscent of frost on wires. When the insect sits, it folds its wings evenly, giving its body a narrow, flat shape. An exception may be several species that keep their wings unfolded at rest. The size of moths of different species can vary greatly - from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
These insects typically have thick, hairy bodies ranging in color from golden yellow to dark brown. Some species are characterized by a radical black color. The vast majority are active at night and rest during daylight hours in a preferably shady habitat.
Folk remedies
And finally, you should find out how to remove moths using traditional methods. All the tools and techniques that will be described below do not involve the use of any chemicals, are available to everyone and are inexpensive. However, at the same time, it is quite problematic to destroy moths with their help; they are intended rather to repel insects. For this reason, to achieve a positive result, they should be used to combat parasites in combination with more powerful modern drugs.
- Essential oils. For moths, the smells of essential oils such as orange, geranium and lavender are repulsive. They need to soak cotton pads and place them in places where moths accumulate.
- Repellent plants. Dried geranium or lavender herbs are tied in bunches and hung in the closet.
- You can use scented toilet soap as a deterrent.
- Newspaper helps against moths. They wrap or rearrange things in it and leave them in the closet. However, this method is not suitable for light fabrics and fur products.
As you know, taking preventative measures is always easier than fighting moths afterwards. Therefore, do not forget to regularly ventilate your closet, clean fur and woolen items, and shake out items on shelves and hangers from time to time.
Prevention
It is more difficult to remove moths from an apartment than to prevent its appearance. Today, ready-made sections against these pests are produced for the laziest. They do not use chemicals, but only natural oils, the smell of which is unpleasant to insects. To avoid encountering food moths, you should carefully examine the purchased cereals for contamination. For the first time after purchase, it is better to leave them in the original packaging to make sure there are no pests.
Source
Life cycle
How long moths live, and at what stages of development they pose a danger to your products and things, we’ll talk further. Flying completely nondescript gray butterflies are already safe. These are adults, their lifespan is 2-4 weeks. During this period, the moth multiplies, producing 1-2 clutches of eggs. Females lay eggs in the same place where they feed. There are from 60 to 230 eggs in one clutch. After 12-15 days at a comfortable temperature of 20-25 C°, caterpillars hatch from them. They build cocoons from the nutritious material in which they live and feed here. It is during this period that future butterflies cause harm. It takes up to 45 days for a caterpillar to transform into a butterfly.
It is strictly forbidden to eat foods in which food moths are found. Caterpillars infect the environment with the waste of their own vital activity; there may be dead larvae and skins and cocoons shed by insects.
Lure Delicia Mottenschutz
An effective and economical product Country: Germany Average price: 203 rubles. Rating (2020): 4.6
This product consists of sheets of paper impregnated with a special composition, which, when evaporated, repels moths and leads to the death of their larvae. To avoid premature weathering, the sheets are packaged in protective film. One package contains two strips, each of which is divided into 10 parts.
The principle of use is no different from other drugs - the moth repellent is placed in cabinets, under carpets, and in dresser drawers. The effect is long-lasting – up to four months. According to user reviews, this German anti-moth drug is indeed very effective. Many people like the complete absence of odor. But it has a significant drawback - it is not sold in all stores.
Lifestyle
The development period of caterpillars depends on environmental conditions. Clothes moth prefers a temperature of 23-25 degrees. Under these conditions, it will take 3 months to develop. If the temperature rises to 30 degrees, this period will be reduced to 2 months. If the temperature in the apartment is maintained at 13 degrees, the caterpillar will be forced to eke out its existence for as long as 6 months and 10 days.
If the temperature drops below 13 or exceeds 30, the caterpillars will die.
On a note!
The movement of the pest between human dwellings occurs with the help of humans. Most likely, it is the caterpillars that are carried, since butterflies are practically incapable of flying. The larvae are brought into the house with clothes, carpets, and food.
DR plates KLAUS
Plates for killing moth larvae without odor Country: Russia Average price: 59 rub. Rating (2020): 4.8
Unlike most similar products, the plates do not repel moths, but destroy their larvae, since the composition includes the insecticide transfluthrin. Its content is low, so the drug is safe for humans. In reviews, buyers mention another advantage - the plates do not smell of anything, which means that the clothes will not have any foreign odors.
The principle of use is extremely simple - the product is laid out in closets and, if necessary, placed directly in the pockets of clothes, hats, and winter shoes for local protection against insects. The action is quite long - up to six months. The effectiveness of the product is not in doubt, since there are a lot of positive reviews about it.
Antimoth drugs
Means for getting rid of moths are available in the form of plates, sections, sprays and classic tablets.
The cheapest option is tablets
and
briquettes
, which are an alloy of naphthalene and camphor. Tablets are traditionally placed at the top of cabinets. Heavy vapors of naphthalene and camphor fall down, preventing moths from laying eggs on clothes. These ancient remedies would be good for everyone, but they are by no means safe for human health, especially in high concentrations.
Advanced Plates
moths have no unpleasant odor. According to manufacturers, they destroy moths and larvae, and repel carpet beetles and leather beetles. The combat readiness of the plates can be counted on within 6 months.
Moth sections
– the most civilized form of antimoth drugs. They can be scented with lavender, tangerine and chamomile. Special sections are produced for the delicate protection of children's things. It is necessary to remove the protective tape and place the section at the top of the cabinet. The anti-moth effect of one section extends to 0.5 cubic meters. m. You will have to replace it with a new one in 4–6 months. However, there are warnings on the packaging that in a room of up to 15 square meters. m. no more than two sections can be used, and the product should be stored separately from food products in places inaccessible to children, this clearly indicates the toxicity of these repellents. Is it possible to replace them with something more natural?
Have you noticed a moth in the house? Don’t think for a minute, but get to work before butterflies and larvae ruin your clothes and food supplies. How to get rid of moths in an apartment? Read now!
Cereals, flour and products often harbor larvae that grow into moths. It is not difficult to get rid of them, the main thing is to take preventive measures in time.
- Step 1: Thoroughly review the contents of your cabinets. If you notice food spoiled by moths, immediately throw it in the trash.
- Step 2. Dry what was able to survive in a microwave or oven (temperature - 70-80 degrees, time - up to 20 minutes, open the oven door slightly), transfer to clean containers and close with a tight lid.
- Step 3. Wash all cabinets, shelves and dishes with soapy water, and then with a vinegar solution. If there are cracks and crevices, it is better to use a brush. After soaping, leave the cabinets open for several hours.
- Step 4. Ventilate the room.
How to get rid of food moths in the kitchen? Take advantage of our selection of these effective remedies.
Moth herbarium
To combat food moths, wormwood, geranium, lavender, walnut leaves (fresh), sweet clover or tobacco are often used. Geraniums can simply be placed in a flowerpot, and the herbs can be laid out on the shelves. Keep in mind that geranium has a very strong aroma that can cause various allergic reactions.
Citrus
Moths simply cannot stand the citrus scent. Place lemon, orange, grapefruit or tangerine peels throughout the kitchen. You can also apply some essential oil to a cotton swab and place it on the shelf.
Bay leaf
How to remove moths using bay leaves? Place them around the entire perimeter of the cabinet in which food, cereals or flour are stored.
Essential oils
To remove moths from the kitchen, soak a piece of cotton wool with any of the essential oils:
- Geranium;
- Tansy;
- Fir;
- Basil;
- Carnation;
- Ledum;
- Rosemary;
- Camphor (can be replaced with natural camphor).
Garlic
Young garlic is an excellent remedy for food moths. Peel one head, separate into teeth and throw into jars of cereal. Don't worry about the scent - it will disappear very quickly.
Perfume and cologne
Moths are repelled by any strong odors, so after cleaning, you can spray perfume and cologne in the cabinets.
Video tips:
How to get rid
If a moth butterfly flies around the apartment during the daytime, then most likely it is a male. Swatting an insect is not the best way to protect your living space from this pest. This is due to the fact that the female is already quietly laying eggs somewhere, from which hungry larvae will soon hatch. Therefore, in order to get rid of uninvited guests, you need to find the most effective folk remedies for moths.
In the closet
Quite often, the presence of a pest in a wardrobe is discovered after holes appear on expensive woolen items. The larvae of such insects can be brought from the street. It is possible to avoid the proliferation of moths if you put into the closet only those clothes that have been pre-washed or thoroughly cleaned after use.
But even if, despite carefully caring for things, pests still appear in the closet with clothes, then everything needs to be reconsidered again, washed and ironed. And fur products should be taken out into the fresh air several times a year under direct sunlight or frost, which this insect is so afraid of.
It must first be treated with a solution of laundry soap. After all the compartments and shelves have dried, you can return the wardrobe items to their original place. For moths in the closet, it is advisable to place repellent folk remedies on the shelves.
This effect is achieved by:
- laundry soap in the cupboard;
- orange peels;
- lavender, mint, chamomile, tansy, wormwood
If there are no folk remedies at home to protect against this insect, then you can use any scented toilet soap. Bars of soap along with wrappers are laid out in cabinets.
In the apartment
To destroy carpet or furniture moths, you need to prepare a concentrated soap solution, which is used to treat the damaged carpet on both sides, as well as upholstered furniture. After such cleaning, the pile of the products becomes tougher, but this method is guaranteed to get rid of unpleasant insects.
To repel carpet moths, you can use high or low temperatures (sun or frost). Experienced housewives know that folk remedies for moths in an apartment include taking carpets out into the cold in winter to thoroughly clean them with snow. In summer, it is recommended to hang carpets in the sun and dry them thoroughly, which will allow you to confidently get rid of pests.
Moths can not only be localized on carpets; they also love down pillows, blankets and rugs. Some people get out of this situation by regularly sending such items to the dry cleaner or drying them in the fresh air. In any case, pillows and blankets that are not used daily should be checked regularly so that insects do not have time to breed in them. They can also be arranged with pieces of soap or bags of herbs.
Among the plants that repel the pest are coleus and geranium. The smell of tobacco, pepper, dried orange peels, and strawberry soap also repels such insects. In addition to plants, most well-known spices also have a pungent odor - allspice, cloves, vanilla, cinnamon. To repel the pest for a long time, it is recommended to fill bags with spices and place them around the apartment.
In the kitchen
The grain species is capable of multiplying very quickly. He can easily do this in sealed bags or glass jars with lids.
When faced with food moths in the kitchen, where they can be found in many cereals, the first thing you should do is throw away everything that is already spoiled. Cereals without larvae must be sifted and fried in a hot frying pan to ensure the destruction of the pest. In addition, cabinets and kitchen surfaces must be thoroughly washed with a solution of laundry soap, rinsed with clean water and dried.
Folk remedies for moths in the kitchen include the use of garlic. Slices of this phytoncide are stored in bedside tables, kitchen cabinets or pantries along with food products. When the clove dries out, it is advisable to replace it with a fresh one.
You can scare away pests in the following popular ways:
- Place lemon, orange or grapefruit zest, bags of lavender or other herbs next to the food.
- Essential oils (lemon, rosemary, lavender) have a good repellent effect. Some people also use laundry or scented soap.
- Spices that have a strong aroma (cloves, allspice, cinnamon, oregano, mint) will help repel. Spices can be poured onto a saucer and placed inside the kitchen cabinets.
Since groceries actively absorb odors, not all folk recipes are suitable for use.
How to deal with harmful butterflies?
If a faded flying insect appears in your home, it is already too late to find out where the moth is coming from in the house. It is necessary to immediately take all measures to exterminate the parasite and prevent damage to property.
The best way to get rid of insects is to prevent their occurrence. To do this, it is enough to regularly inspect wardrobes, grocery cabinets and upholstered furniture
In addition, it is very important to carefully inspect items and products while still in the store, so as not to bring the pest into the house with your own hands. The use of aromatic oils and bags of dried herbs of geranium, wormwood or lavender will repel adults who accidentally flew into the apartment through a window, door or ventilation shaft.
If there are already moths in the apartment, this is a reason to use more severe control methods, which can be:
- Mechanical. Includes washing in hot water, heating, freezing and airing in the sun, throwing away all contaminated products.
- Chemical. This involves the use of substances with a pungent odor and insecticides.
It should be remembered that not all items can be washed at high temperatures. Fur items and outerwear should be ventilated for 2-3 days on the balcony so that the sun's rays destroy the larvae. An excellent method is to blow hot air and freeze it in refrigeration units or on the balcony in winter.
Roasting or freezing is not rational to use in relation to food products, since they will remain insect excrement, dead larvae, pupae and eggs, which make the food unfit for consumption.
In the fight against furniture moths and for processing fur items, it is important to use anti-moth aerosols and dry powders.
Regardless of the reason for the appearance of moths in the apartment, it is important to treat the cabinets and the entire living space
Particular attention should be paid to furniture joints, cracks in the flooring and baseboards where insect pupae may be located. It is best to treat food cabinets with vinegar, and the wardrobe with special household chemicals.
To completely get rid of the infestation, it is best to carry out a secondary treatment to destroy the insects that have hatched from the pupae.
Agricultural pests
It is better to study the enemy thoroughly so as not to get confused if you suddenly have to meet him not only in the apartment, but also in the garden! It is quite common for entire colonies to attack agricultural crops, poisoning the lives of gardeners. Let's look at several main types of moths:
grain moth
The grain moth is a species of keratophagous silvery-white with a small bright brown pattern on the fore wings. They can also be recognized by their gray belly and wings, the span of which reaches up to fifteen millimeters. Pupation occurs primarily in spring and summer. Grain moths can most often be found in barns, warehouses, granaries and other places where grain crops are stored. An individual grain moth lays up to a hundred eggs directly on grains: one or two eggs are glued to each grain. The female combines several grains into a kind of lump with the help of a sticky liquid secreted, similar to a web, and eats them while inside this lump of web. To move, she has to drag the entire bundle behind her. This type of moth prefers to pupate in cracks in the floor and walls. In addition to grains, moths also eat dried fruits and various seeds.
Rye moth
Rye moth - this species has a wingspan of up to thirteen millimeters. The hind wings are dark yellow, with a brownish edging. The most common rye moth is found in central Russia. Individuals prefer to lay eggs towards the end of summer on wild cereals and on emerging winter crops. The larva eats the core of the stem and spends the whole winter in it. Pupation of rye moth larvae occurs closer to mid-summer.
