Moths in bedroom

pledgeX

It's that time of year again where I've started getting moths in my bedroom. I've been in the house for a couple of years now and tend to get moths for several months from now over the summer months, then they disappear during the colder months.

I've only ever noticed them in my bedroom, so I don't think it's the kind that go for foodstuffs.

I've pulled all the furniture out to check the carpets and they look ok. All the clothes in our wardrobe are fine too. Late last year we took every single item of clothing out of the cupboards, shook them off and washed them (although they looked spotless anyway), so I don't think they're hiding in our clothes. The carpets are only 18 months old so I don't think it's because they are old and dirty. We vacuum and clean regularly so I don't think dirt/dust is encouraging them. Our windows are closed most of the time, they certainly haven't been open for extended periods this year.

They're quite small, never bigger than 1cm and brown in colour. I kill them whenever I see them but at the minute I'm seeing one maybe every 2-3 days. I've never seen any lavae or 'shells/cases'.

Any hints as to where they're coming from? If I can't work out where they're coming from, any suggestions on how to get rid of them? I've seen mothballs and the like for sale, but read mixed reviews from some people saying they don't work or smell awful.

Thanks for any help.

Furts

The larvae would be in, or under, a wool carpet. If the carpet is dense/good quality you will probably not see them. The moths like the wool and also, I believe, skin cells on the floor. They eat this, but some move to the back of furniture, into crevices such as behind skirting and gaps in floors etc.

I do not know of a satisfactory way to get rid of them.

Having become aware of the larvae behind skirting I would recommend all mse users sealing the gap between the skirting and the floor. Painters caulk is cheap, quick and easy but does shrink back. So foam up big gaps first, or tool it well in, or be prepared for a second top up application.

paulofessex

I wonder if it would be a good idea to attempt to catch one, take some high quality photos of it in an attempt to find out exactly what type of moth it is. Surely on the internet somewhere someone will be able to identify it. This then may help you to establish the best way to eradicate them.

Biggles

If they have narrow wings that fold right back on their body, they could well be clothes moths.

Don't look for moths, or even larvae, in your clothes or carpet, look for damage.

If your carpet is wool, look under furniture, they won't be anywhere exposed to the light. And, if in doubt, make sure you move all the furniture when you vacuum, regular vacuuming is the only way to eradicate them if they are the Case-Making Clothes Moth, which is the one that eats carpets.

anotherbaldrick

Probably carpet moths, you have got to zapp the larvae, the only way I know is to use a high pressure steam cleaner , Polti or similar, you can hire them. It is what I used and it got them all but the area to watch is the edge of the carpet next to the skirting board , particularly behind furniture, wardrobes chest of drawers etc.

John_Ashtone

Oh dear, this must be posted by a Woman, was I the only person seeing the posting, who thought, ~I wish I had Moths in my bedroom~

But then our lass would get rid, the same way she does the spiders.

Spiders I may add that are just minding their own business, but then the Ex wanted a Royal commision into how a single spider got into her house, indeed how dare it come into her house? Sigh.

Ensure you have a macro facility on your camera, and it is sometimes better to get further back and use zoom (ensure stable tripod) when taking pics, and good light, preferably no flash, lets you get high res pics.

And why kill them, poor things what harm have they done you.

Biggles

John_Ashtone wrote: »

was I the only person seeing the posting, who thought, ~I wish I had Moths in my bedroom~

Er, well, yes I think you probably were. Even if they weren't clothes moths, it would mean having to get out if bed and let them out before they bashed their brains out on the window.

And why kill them, poor things what harm have they done you.

I kill clothes moths because I have bare patches in my expensive wool carpet where their larvae have been and, as a result, can no longer rearrange my furniture, as it has to cover the patches!

pledgeX

Thanks for the advice all. I took one photo last night and it turns out it was a white shouldered house moth, which after a bit of research are the ones you tend to find around food supplies - which makes no sense as food is never in our bedroom. I'll take a couple more snaps and see if they're all the same sort.

The carpet looks fine at the minute, and it's a very cheap one so I doubt it's real wool and it's certainly not thick so I would think I'd be able to see any larvae etc.

I'll pull out all the furniture on the weekend and take a look in the areas I can't see.

nicka99

we have white shouldered house moths in our house. they come out when the weather warms up and pretty much disappear through the winter. Apparently they eat off grains and other food stuffs but there is no evidence at all of that in our kitchen and all our 'loose' food is normally in sealed containers. They also eat 'animal debris' i.e. fur. we had a serious rat infestation when we first moved in and Ive got a horrible feeling they are eating their way through the dried out carcasses stuck under the floorboards and in the cavity walls after they were poisoned - eek !

dont really know how to get rid of them - I use a handheld vacuum to get rid of them but probably only a few per day maximum in the summer.