What Is Carpet Moth And Its Best Treatment

Imagine waking up one morning and finding your carpet covered in carpet moth and moth larvae. This nightmare is all too common, and it’s not just limited to carpets – furniture, clothes, and even walls can be infested. 

What is a carpet moth? And why are they so problematic?

In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about carpet moths, from what they are to the various ways to get rid of them. Keep reading for tips on how to protect yourself from carpet moth infestation, and stay ahead of the bug.

What is a carpet moth?

A carpet moth is a small, moth-like creature that feeds on fabric. Carpet moths are common in homes where there are carpets or other soft materials. They cause damage by eating away at the fabric, creating holes and making the material less effective.

Its scientific name is Trichophaga tapetzella, and it can be found worldwide.Carpet moths are a group of closely related species that all have soft, wooly and brightly colored larvae.Their caterpillars feed on woolen carpets and upholstery fabrics and can be quite destructive.

The adult moth is small with clear wings that are easily distinguished from other moths by their coloration. The wingspan is about 3 cm (1 inch). They fly in June-September when they lay eggs on the underside of furniture or carpets where they hatch into larvae. These larvae usually spin webbing around themselves to protect themselves from predators such as birds and spiders.

Difference between carpet moths and cloth moths

As you probably know, carpets and other woolen fabrics can be infested with carpet moths. These larvae damage the carpets while cloth moth larvae infest clothes and bedding. Both types of moth are attracted to light, but carpet moth larvae prefer a warmer environment while cloth moths prefer cooler temperatures. If you’re noticing any infestation in your home, it’s important to identify the type of moth and take appropriate measures to eradicate the pests.

Read More on carpet moths.

Images Of Carpet Moths, Eggs And larvae

Here are some images of carpet moths including damaged carpet and larvae.

Best Carpet Moth Treatment

I know you want to get rid of carpet moths.

Before talking about moth treatment, you need to know about their existence in your home.

So, how do you know if you have got carpet moths in your home?

Well, if you’ve noticed some balding patches in the corners and at the edges of your carpets, the chances are you have an infestation of carpet moth. This is a problem that needs immediate attention because it will continue to get worse. 

So, a little about carpet moths. The moth itself doesn’t cause any damage to your carpets, it’s the larvae that cause the damage. The larvae actually eat your carpet fibers. You’ll only find carpet moths in wool carpets because wool is organic, it’s a protein and the larvae love it. 

It’s not uncommon as well to find the larvae the same color as your carpet fibers by the way having eaten the dyes in the carpet pile. Now even though the moth itself is relatively harmless and only lives for about two to three months, the risk they propose is further egg-laying.

Carpet moths can be a real pain to deal with, and it’s not uncommon for them to infest homes. Thankfully, there are a few methods that can be used to get rid of them. The most common way to do this is by using an insecticidal spray.

Here are the ways to destroy carpet moths

Moth Killer Spray

Yeah, you read it right. Moth killer spray is trending right now.There are a number of ways to get rid of carpet moths, but the best way is to use a moth killer spray. Moth killers work by poisoning the insects, and they will die as a result. You can buy moth killer sprays in most stores or online.

Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Probably it’s the easiest way to kill carpet moths.

And here are some best carpet moth killer sprays.

Use Moth Trap 

If you’re like most homeowners, one of your top concerns is keeping your home clean and free from pests. One pest that’s often a problem in homes is the carpet moth. 

This creature loves to feed on fabrics, so it can be difficult to get rid of them.  One way to try and take care of carpet moths is by using a trap. There are different types of traps available, but they all work essentially the same way: they attract the moth with a lure or carpet moths can be a difficult pest to take care of, especially since they are attracted to fabrics. 

One way to get rid of carpet moths is by using a trap. There are different types of traps available, but all work the same way – they attract the moth with a lure or food source. Once the moth is caught in the trap, you can release it into another part of your home or dispose of it properly.

Here are some best-selling carpet moth traps.

Fluoride Solutions

Spraying your carpet with a commercial fabric-treatment which contains fluoride is another way to protect your carpet from the feeding of the moth  larvae.

Before spraying, make sure your carpet is clean and stain-free.

Now if you ask me which solution should I go with?

I recommend you to go with spray or traps.

FAQs

Is carpet moth harmful?

The carpet moth is not harmful to humans and pets. It is a pest that infests wool and other types of carpets and can cause damage to the fabric.

What are the characteristics of carpet moths?

The larvae of the carpet moth overwinter as larvae and pupate in the spring. Adult moths emerge in early summer and lay eggs on carpets and other materials. The larvae hatch, feed, and grow until fall, when they pupate. Carpet moth larvae damage fabrics by eating the fibers and creating holes. The adult moths spread the larvae by flying around.

Here’s a video on preventing carpet moth larvae from eating your carpet.

Conclusion

Now that you know everything about treating carpet moth infestation, it’s time to get rid of them! Carpet moths have a life cycle that starts with eggs being laid on the carpets. The larvae then feed on the wool fibers and damage the carpets, and you won’t let that happen in your home.

This time you kill carpet moths using killer spray or traps.

Wish you all the best.

by Paul Carson
Paul Carson is a carpet specialist. He and his wife have been in the industry for several decades, starting with Carson’s Carpets & Floors when it was just a junior high shop. His father was also a professional carpenter who installed floors and carpeting for years. Carson has been installing carpets since he was fourteen years old.He did not want to be like his dad, so he became an installer.