Moth Identification
Important Tips on Moth Identification
Lately, you’ve been catching glimpses of tiny, fluttering moths around the house; in order to effectively take steps to eliminate them, a few tips on moth identification will be helpful.
In the home, there are a couple of moths that are continually and erroneously classified as being something other than what they are. Knowing specific characteristics that will lead to accurate moth identification will enable you to focus on the areas of infestation that may be occurring, and then get rid of these pests.
The most common household moth pests are the pantry moth and the clothes moth. Each of these in larvae stage can cause an extreme amount of damage in the home. Since they are commonly mistaken one for the other, having this bit of knowledge of moth identification will be helpful. Shared characteristics are that they are small and found in the home. There are some distinct differences, however, that will help to identify each species.
The pantry moth is dark colored, with bi-colored wings. Its source of nutrition is in a variety of packaged foods that are typically found on home pantry shelves, including dried herbs, spices, dry baking mixes, cereals, grains and even dry pet foods, especially bird seed. To aid in moth identification, this pest rarely is found outside the areas where food is normally stored, such as the kitchen or pantry. The adult moth is actually not involved with contamination of food, living only for about one week to mate and lay eggs. It will generally be seen in the daytime when light is present. The larvae is the culprit, and can be evidenced by the actual presence of the caterpillars in the food item, webbing found within the food package or by a fine gritty material in the food item that is the pest’s waste.
In contrast, the clothes moth is drab with a single coloration. Due to its signature characteristic of feeding on upholstery and carpeting as well as clothing, this moth can be found in any room of the house; a fact that often leads to incorrect moth identification. Unlike the pantry moth, the clothes moth prefers dim lighting and avoids well-lit areas; a key to the correct moth identification that points toward this pest. Again, the adult moth is not the cause of damage to fabrics; rather, its larvae are the destructive force which creates holes, threadbare areas and furrows into natural and organic fibers.
Since the pantry moth affects food items in the kitchen or pantry and the clothes moth affects areas containing organic or natural fibers, eliminating them will require concentration on their favored areas. Having the knowledge needed to make the correct moth identification will enable an individual to take corrective steps to eradicate these household pests.