How to distinguish clothes moths from food moths. How to get rid of clothes moths in a closet with clothes? What drugs are best to use? A fur coat cover is the best means of protecting an expensive purchase. Traps for clothes moths

Moths are always associated with a small moth of a nondescript color, the appearance of which in the house becomes a signal for an inspection of all fur and wool products. However, in nature there is a wide variety of these insects that can cause damage both in the apartment and on personal plot. In order to fight the pest, it is not enough to know what a moth looks like as an adult, since the main threat is its offspring.

Characteristics of all types

Mole – lepidopteran insect, whose activity begins at dusk. They are characterized by small sizes and narrow wings when folded. The clothes folds its wings into a triangle, the moths into tubes, and the ermines into a pyramid (see photo).

The color depends on the type of moth and habitat. For most insects, camouflage is a vital necessity to protect themselves from predators. The white moth - the snow leaf roller - practically does not stand out against the background of the birch, and the fireweed moth is difficult to see on the green leaves. Below is a photo of a moth living in the wild.

You can distinguish adults from butterflies by. In the adult stage, moths do not feed on anything, and their energy reserves are replenished from substances that they accumulated as caterpillars. The oral apparatus of the larvae is equipped with powerful jaws that can gnaw through even hard bones, dense seed shells, turtle shells, and animal horns.

Features of reproduction

The answer to the question of how moths reproduce will help you take action. preventive measures and more effectively combat the pest. 5-6 hours after mating, the female lays eggs, their number varies between 50 -100 pieces. In most cases, moth eggs are found in the same substrate where the entire family lives. Under favorable conditions, after 6-7 days, small worm-like creatures with a whitish transparent body, the size of which does not exceed 1 mm, appear. Optimal conditions for the development of eggs - a temperature of 30-33 ° C; at a temperature of 15 ° C, the duration of maturation can increase to 35 days.

Pregnant females hardly fly and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Mostly males fly in the apartment.

Caterpillars are also not prone to travel and are characterized by low mobility. At this stage of moth development, they molt several times, and the duration of the period can range from 40 days to 2.5 years. The developed caterpillars begin to weave a cocoon in which it will pupate. It's completely smooth inside. outer part may be covered with small debris, insect excrement, and dust particles. The pupal development stage lasts 8-28 days depending on temperature environment.

Full cycle Development from egg to adulthood can range from 60 days to 2-3 years. How long an adult lives depends on its gender. Females live 7-10 days, and the lifespan itself can reach 30 days.

Description of varieties

Several tens of thousands live on the planet different types these insects. The main household pests are the following types moths: furniture moths, food moths (grain moths), wool moths, fur moths, clothes moths, (), etc.

Almost every type of plant has its own type of insect.

Indoor moth

House moth is a collective term for all types of insects that can live in the house and spoil groceries and clothing. The only difference between them is the power source; external differences can only be recognized by a specialist.

The clothes moth is distinguished by its yellowish wings without visible patterns. The larvae live in hollow tissues and are able to gnaw out a huge space. For a long time their presence may be unnoticeable, since the external thin layer they leave it intact. They prefer to eat cotton, wool, and natural upholstery. upholstered furniture. From waste products, food debris, and microscopic dust accumulations, the larvae build their own cover. Clothes moth is afraid daylight and tries to hide in the folds of clothes or in cases. For the most part, the insect lives in clothing closets in dark secluded corners.

There are several ways to get rid of clothes moths and other clothing-eating species at home:

• Aerosol products for treating clothing are effective in killing insects at all stages of development and can be used at any time of the year.
• Freezing of clothes - at temperatures below 5°C the entire population dies. They have the same effect high temperatures, therefore, you can get rid of clothing moths if you hang infected clothes outside on a hot day, shaking them first. Some of the larvae will fall off, and the rest will die in the sun.
• Washing contaminated items at the maximum permissible temperatures.
• The use of special fumigators with insecticides.
• Folk remedies are used as a means of combating adult butterflies. Strong-smelling herbs in fabric bags, hung in closets with clothes, can scare away inconspicuous moths. But you should understand that aromas cannot destroy the larvae and eggs.

When listing what types of moths there are, one cannot help but recall the fur coat moth, which is capable of short period turn an expensive fur product into an unwearable item. Adult butterflies are characterized by their small size and small black dots on their wings. The larvae are white. Food preferences include natural fabrics and furs.

Furniture moth

Furniture moth - another type indoor pests. The larvae chew their way through and their travel route may look like tunnels. The development time of caterpillars depends on nutritional value stern. In foods high in natural ingredients The larvae grow very quickly, after 25-30 days they turn into a full-fledged sexually mature individual and begin to multiply rapidly. Females are very fertile - the number of eggs in one oviposition can reach two hundred.

Distinctive features of food moths

Food moths are insects from the moth family with a characteristic pattern on their wings. In apartments there is also an inconspicuous food moth, which can be mistaken for a wardrobe. The favorite habitats of representatives of this species are the kitchen and food storage areas. The larvae readily eat nuts, cereals, dried fruits and any dry food.

The main harm caused by insects is the spoilage of food, which becomes completely unsuitable for consumption. The fight against a domestic pest should begin as soon as the “enemy” has revealed its presence, then others bulk products will be simpler:

• Conduct an audit of all food supplies. Carefully inspect the contents of all jars and containers, even if they are hermetically sealed. Buying contaminated cereals is commonplace. If you find a product containing a pest, it is best to throw it away. Occasionally, when the infection has not become widespread, potentially contaminated products are heated in the oven.
• External and internal walls kitchen cabinets, the cabinet needs to be processed insecticide and make sure that it does not get on food.
• Adults must also be destroyed. Despite the fact that they have lost the ability to feed, they mate and reproduce perfectly. Adults can be eliminated mechanically, using sticky tapes, bait traps.

Street moth

Types of street moths include: a large number of types of insects. City dwellers can often observe poplar moths, which are sometimes called wood moths. Moths do not harm humans; they feed on poplar fluff and tree leaves.

IN agriculture Grain, cabbage, potato, gooseberry, tomato, etc. are common. Almost every plant can “boast” of its own type of this pest.

Beekeepers are familiar with wax moths. Adults emit a special aroma, thanks to which the bees mistake them for their own and freely let them into the hive. The larvae feed on all the foods that are in bee house: honey, beebread, wax. Infection of hives with wax moths leads to the fact that bee colonies weaken and are forced to leave their habitat or die.

The moth is becoming more and more tenacious, experts say. Now getting rid of it is much more difficult than before. Accustomed to anti-moth products, it continues to fly and poison your entire life. In addition, if you incorrectly identify the type of moth, you will not be able to get rid of it.

As a rule, moths are divided into 2 types: kitchen and indoor moths. It is not so difficult to distinguish them if you look closely at them.

How to distinguish kitchen moths from indoor moths

You can distinguish food moths from clothing moths by appearance and color. So, for example, the food is darker - gray and dark gray individuals. The same moth that prefers to eat wool is the sand moth. In addition, the dressing room will be slightly smaller than the kitchen one.

You can also navigate by the location of the moth. For example, if it is more common in the kitchen, then it is definitely food. If you often catch insects in the room, most likely these are clothing insects.

What is the harm of moths?

Both food moths and clothes moths cause very serious harm. Moreover, panicking at the sight of moths and trying to destroy them quickly is a futile task. After all, the main problem is the larvae. The main thing is, if you see a moth, start cleaning. Plus, you should understand that only males fly, which, in principle, live for several hours. Females usually hide and simply crawl around, laying eggs.

It is their larvae that are the most dangerous, because... For their own food, they begin to eat wool or cereals (depending on the type of moth).

The clothes moth actually feeds not on wool, but on particles of skin and sweat of the person who wore these clothes. It’s just that in the process of eating they bite through and damage the tissue at the same time.

How to get rid of moths

You can get rid of moths - both food and clothes - only through cleaning. As soon as you find moths in your home, start investigating. Carefully inspect the items in the closet, remembering to check all the joints of the cabinets and shelves. Don't forget to examine the cereals, dried fruits and teas that are stored in kitchen cabinets. Your task is to find the nest.

Experts recommend using a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the corners in the closet. Be sure to ventilate the cabinets after cleaning. If you find larvae in your clothes, clean and wash everything you can. And remember that inspection and cleaning will have to be carried out regularly, because... Eliminating moths the first time is not at all guaranteed to work.

Be sure to check the products you brought from the store and pour them into glass containers. As for clothing, place moth repellents, such as lavender, near it. This should protect things from being attacked by moths.

Clothes and furniture moths have long been known to damage clothing, fur and wool products, upholstery and carpets. Wherein furniture moth prefers fur, furs and wool, and clothes moth prefers mainly cotton products. In nature, both species are pronounced keratophages - that is, they feed on the hair and feathers of animals, and in an apartment they can easily switch from one diet to another.

This is interesting

Among the moths there is a butterfly whose caterpillars gnaw holes in the horns of African antelopes and live in them, feeding on keratin.

Both in the past specified types house moths were called collectively - clothes moths, and even today this habit has been preserved among the people, although the butterflies themselves are quite easily distinguished from each other. Therefore, later in the text when describing common features In biology, both species will be called clothes moths, and if clarification is required, this will be discussed separately.

First look at clothes and furniture moths

Both types of moths are quite similar to each other. Adult butterflies are small - they reach 5-9 mm in length with folded wings, and have an inconspicuous straw-yellow color. The furniture moth may be somewhat darker, and it also has slight darkening at the base of the wings.

Clothes moths are almost always light yellow. It is difficult to discern the differences between these species with the naked eye. For example, in the photo below there is a clothes moth:

And in the next photo there is a furniture moth:

In the air, the furniture moth looks like a small moth that is not the most skilled in flight. In both furniture and clothes moths, only males fly. Females have wings, but they do not use them.

This is interesting

The opinion that female house moths are wingless is not true. Any indoor moth has winged females and males. The wings of females are only slightly smaller than the wings of males, and in principle, females are capable of flight. But this ability is not used as unnecessary - the males themselves find them, fertilize them, and the females lay eggs without long distances.

An inexperienced eye is unlikely to be able to detect differences between male and female clothes moths. What distinguishes the clothes moth from the food moth, for example, the barn moth or the mill moth, is the uniform color of the wings. All types of moths have a fairly noticeable pattern on their wings.

But the most important pest is not at all. The immediate destroyers of clothing and furniture upholstery are inconspicuous small caterpillars that carefully and quite quickly gnaw holes in sweaters, tracks on fur coats and bald patches on carpets.

Moth larva and eggs: how and where to find them

So, it is the moth larva that feeds on our clothes. From wool and cotton, the caterpillar can extract the minimum nutrients, which are there, and for this she has all the necessary devices:

At the same time, the larvae of furniture moths are clearly distinguished from the larvae of clothes moths. The larva of a clothes moth can build a simple small case from its own secretions and food debris, while the caterpillar of a furniture moth builds a clearly visible and durable corridor along its entire route of movement.

The photo below shows a clothes moth larva. It retains this whitish-yellow color throughout its development:

House moth caterpillars are quite inactive. Only after hatching from the eggs, they spread to short distances from each other, but after they begin to feed fully, they move very little.

This is interesting

Clothes moth caterpillars diligently avoid light. If you bring clothes with them into the light, they try to hide among the folds or in their covers.

If the food is quite suitable for the larvae of house moths (contains little or no synthetics), they grow quickly, and in 18-20 days they manage to molt 12-13 times, after which they pupate. If the caterpillars have to eat low-nutrient food (for example, with a high content of indigestible synthetic fibers), then in most cases development is delayed up to 1-2, and sometimes up to 6 months.

On a note

The development of house moth larvae slows down even if the air temperature drops in the place where they are present. At the same time, the caterpillars themselves become smaller, and when certain temperatures are reached, they hide in cocoons and stop feeding.

Eggs indoor species moths are white or whitish yellow, are small and do not exceed 0.5 mm in length. The female lays them in small groups of 50-80 pieces directly on clothing or other fabric, which the larvae will subsequently feed on.

An example of clothes moth egg laying is shown in the photo below:

The eggs of clothes and furniture moths develop within 5-6 days, but when the air temperature drops, this period is delayed, and when they reach 0°C, the eggs die altogether.

Moth nutrition and the main harm from it

Adult clothes moths do not feed at all. Their mouthparts and digestive tract are underdeveloped, and they do not need food.

Moth butterflies live at most for several weeks, more often - 8-10 days. Typically, females lay eggs already on the third or fourth day after emerging from the pupa, after which they die quite quickly.

Moth larvae that feed on fur items cannot move through the wool unhindered. Therefore, on the way of their movement, they have to gnaw on fur hairs that they do not eat, leaving a clipped path and a bunch of hairs on their clothes.

Moth caterpillars cannot feed on completely synthetic things. If the fabric consists partly of synthetics, then it can be eaten by the larva, but on such a diet the caterpillar grows much slower than on natural fabrics.

Reproduction and lifestyle of the pest

Having emerged from the pupa, male clothes moths begin to diligently search for a female, guided primarily by smell. After mating, within 3-4 hours, the female begins to lay eggs. She lays them in portions, while the furniture moth is much more prolific - one female can lay up to 300 eggs, while for a female clothes moth this number barely reaches 60.

The clothes moth has no seasonality in development and reproduction. Larvae from the same clutch can develop with at different speeds, and the emergence of butterflies from larvae occurs unevenly and scatteredly. In nature, all species of mid-latitude moths have a period of hibernation; pupae or caterpillars of the last instars usually overwinter.

Fighting moths: are there really reliable means?

Today there are a large number of ways to get rid of clothes moths, both traditional and quite modern. The most effective among them are the following.

The moth is represented not only by an inconspicuous butterfly, which even children know about. In fact, this is whole group insects with characteristic appearance And biological features. Among the representatives, if we consider the question of what a moth looks like, you can find large and small individuals. The insect lives on every continent and has the ability to adapt to any external conditions. Caterpillars eat wool and bark, wax and horns, leaves and even ant eggs. Problematic in organic world find objects that would not be associated with the life activity of these small butterflies.

What is a mole

Moth butterflies are special representatives of lepidopteran insects, small in size and active at twilight. Larvae, not adults, act as serious pests for human life and nature. The latter, in turn, reach puberty and begin laying eggs.

House moths have many similarities with butterflies, however, unlike these beautiful insects, moths do not have a proboscis, through which butterflies usually get nectar deeply hidden in inflorescences. Moth larvae are primitive creatures, so they are unpretentious in food, but they have powerful jaws that allow them to feed on fruits and seeds.

When an insect grows up, it cannot bite as hard because the jaws become weak and there is no way to even digest the food it eats. the main task mature females - to ensure good offspring, so if the task is to get rid of moths, it is necessary to fight the larvae, and not the adults. It is the larvae that spoil clothes, eat your cereal and furniture.

Life cycle of a moth

It remains to ask the question of how long a moth lives. Adult fledged individuals have a short lifespan of about 2-4 weeks, this process depends on the type of insect. Such moths fly at dusk because they are not protected from predators. There are two stages that must go through before full puberty occurs.

• The female lays eggs, from which caterpillars emerge within 2 weeks. A prerequisite is a temperature of +20 C.
• Next, the larvae are wrapped in a cocoon, which is created from special material. The pupa develops in it long time, takes up to 10 months.

Based on the characteristics of this type, it is easy to calculate what life cycle moths, and what damage can be caused to property over its duration.

Varieties of moths

Fur moth

It has a brilliant yellow color and the front wings may be equipped with small dark colored dots. On the lower pair of wings, a light gray tone predominates; there is a yellowish reflection of 15-16 mm. Considering the question of what a moth of this type eats, it can be noted that it mainly eats clothing made from natural raw materials. The caterpillars are white in color and look like worms. Their skin is transparent, the number of legs is 8, they are very short. The contents of the stomach can be seen through the body. This “predatory moth” usually attacks fur products; the biting male gnaws the entire pile of the product.

Clothes moth

Compared to the previous species, this individual is larger in size. At the base, the color of the front wings is violet-brown, and from the middle the typical color begins. yellow tint. White head fluff - distinguishing feature this individual. What this type of moth does is the drapery or cloth materials in the folds of which it lives.

Furniture moth

This common appearance insects: the butterfly has a shiny light color and a yellow head. This species may be grouped into a special genus because it lacks rough tentacles. If we consider a mole on various photos, you can see that it has many similarities with a butterfly. Considering the question of how this type of moth reproduces - it happens in a similar way to other groups. First, the caterpillars eat the lint stuffing that makes up the furniture, and then they go outside and eat the tires. Pupation of individuals occurs on the bottom of the chairs.

grain moth

This "predatory moth" may have a silvery or White color, and is also endowed with a small pattern in the area of ​​the front wings. Butterfly flights occur in the spring and summer time. Adults glue a pair of eggs to the grain. The peculiarity of such an individual lies in its ability to reproduce and conduct life activities in tinder fungi or in rotten wood. The “predatory moth” actively attacks seeds and dried fruits.

Barley moth

Sometimes this actively breeding insect species may be called grain moth. The insect has light brown shade, and the wings at the back are gray in color. The moth is endowed with long labial tentacles that rise like horns above the head. Butterfly summers are held in July and September. An insect of the order moth lays its first eggs on ears of barley and wheat.

Where does a common moth of this type live? Everything is simple - then the caterpillar enters the grain, where it actively eats all its contents, leaving the outer film intact. From a small hole round shape A butterfly flies out of the grain and begins to lay eggs on other grains. The development of a new generation of caterpillars is carried out in barns.

Rye moth

This type of insect is small in size and yellow-brown in color. The hind wings have a whitish tint, the antennae are black. Usually this insect is found in the central part of Russia. It lays eggs on cereals and overwinters there, gradually eating away the stems. Pupation occurs between the leaves. The photograph demonstrates its special appearance.

Cabbage moth

This small insect is distinguished by the presence of a small wavy stripe in the rear edge. Also, the antennae of this individual have white rings. The first years of butterflies begin in spring time. They lay eggs on various cruciferous plants- cabbage, rapeseed, horseradish. The secondary flight of butterflies starts in early August, and throughout the fall the development of the second generation of caterpillars occurs.

A moth is a special insect, the adult of which does no harm. The answer to the question of whether such a moth bites is clear: it can bite, since caterpillars have developed jaws, but in adult individuals they are reduced.

A moth is a lepidopteran insect from the butterfly family. It is generally accepted that this is not without reason the question “What does a moth eat?” V popular game“100 to 1,” people most often answered “fur coat.” In fact, moths live everywhere. In nature, moths prefer moderate climatic zones, steppes and forest-steppes. And at home they are able to live even in the far north. The thing is that the apartments maintain the temperature most suitable for her life (+ 23−25 C). Today, about three thousand species of moths are known, but only every hundredth is considered dangerous to humans.

In appearance, the moth resembles a very small butterfly. Her body with wings folded along it does not exceed 5−8 mm in length.

Clothes moths have a gray-yellowish color, while food moths have a dark brown, almost black, color. Interestingly, some species, like chameleons, acquire colors that match their habitat. For example, moths living in the forest have a greenish tint.

Along with coloring, to effective ways camouflage can also be attributed to the form acquired by insects in the resting stage. Species whose main habitat is the crowns of trees usually do not fold their wings at all so that they can be mistaken for a dry leaf, while insects living in the grass are the opposite: they stretch out to resemble a blade of grass.

The list can be expanded endlessly, since clothes moths can attack any thing that contains includes natural fibers. She will not disdain “tasteless” synthetic materials, if they contain at least a small percentage of cotton or wool. Even leather can be used. Particularly appetizing to her will be clothes that have been worn for a long time, with the smell of sweat and particles of shed epidermis. To get to the treasured delicacy, the moth larva is able to gnaw through even polyethylene, so packing things in a plastic bag will not save them at all.

Typically, each species prefers certain foods, but in reality capable of devouring absolutely everything(as most often happens).

It is noteworthy that it can settle even in the most seemingly sterile kitchen. Insufficient ventilation and high humidity premises are created comfortable conditions for its development and reproduction.

Do food moths ruin clothes?

Answer: no. If you find a pest in your food supplies, you don’t have to worry about the contents of your cupboards. The enzymatic composition of its digestive juices does not allow it to digest tissue fibers.

Danger of moths for humans

The moth does not pose a direct threat to human health. Products or residues contaminated with it can cause harm. chemical substances after incorrect disinfestation.

How to get rid of moths

To prevent moths from appearing in wardrobes, it is worth observe basic hygiene rules: ventilate and wash your things more often, do wet cleaning premises. Before long-term storage or for preventive purposes, things can be taken outside under direct Sun rays or in the cold.