Webbing clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella) belong to the order Lepidoptera and the Tineidae family. Also known simply as clothes moths or clothing moths, these pests pose a particular risk to businesses that deal with textiles and clothing.
Webbing clothes moths can be hard to spot as they are weak fliers and not attracted to light. Therefore, you may need professional help in their identification and for ongoing clothes moth control.
Adult moths are gold, wheat-yellow, or tan with small red-gold hairs on their heads. Their wings are slightly lighter in color and have small golden hairs spanning their length. Their larvae are white or off-white and have brown or black heads.
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Webbing clothes moths prefer to live in dark, humid areas where they can easily access food (natural fibers). They leave behind eggs, silk, shed skin, and pupae where they live, such as in wardrobes, dark corners of closets, storage boxes, and under heavy furniture.
Webbing clothes larvae feed on natural fibers such as human hair, rodent hair, wool, fur, and feathers. They don’t usually feed on synthetic fabric, but they may do so if the fabric contains human perspiration or body oils, or if it's a blend of natural and synthetic fibers.
Adult clothing moths do not feed. Instead, the adults mate, deposit eggs on fibers, and die shortly thereafter. Both adult and larval webbing clothes moths are nocturnal. They feed, mate, and locate food sources at night and hide during the day, making them so difficult to spot.
Female adult clothes moths lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs on food sources and die shortly afterward. Warmer temperatures can accelerate egg development, allowing them to hatch in as little as four to 10 days.
After hatching, the larvae (caterpillars) begin feeding. As larvae grow, they molt continuously up to 45 times. The larvae eventually pupate inside silk cocoons. This takes between one and four weeks, after which the newly emerged adult moths are ready to mate and restart the cycle.
Unlike many other moth species, webbing clothes moths are not particularly good fliers and only fly for short distances. Webbing clothes moths are also not attracted to light. They are also photophobic, actively avoiding well-lit areas in favor of dark, secluded hiding spots. This behavior, combined with their limited ability to fly, makes them particularly difficult to detect and identify.
As webbing clothes moth larvae feed, they create small, circular holes in fabric. Inspect clothing stored in warehouses or retail spaces for irregular damage, such as tears or bite marks. Keep an eye out for pupae as well; larvae often weave them into silk cases directly onto the infested material.
A clothes moth infestation can become expensive when it is not identified early. For a commercial property, the cost is not limited to the replacement of damaged goods.
Businesses may also face cleaning and restoration costs, lost or unsellable inventory, operational disruptions, reputational concerns, and the expense of inspecting and protecting unaffected stock. High-value fabrics, antique furnishings, hospitality linens, retail merchandise, and museum or heritage items can be particularly vulnerable.
To remove and exclude clothes moths, look for shed skin, small translucent eggs about the size of a pinhead, and silk cocoons. Pay special attention to dark closets, other secluded storage areas, and the edges of area rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting.
Consider storing garments in sealed plastic clothing protectors. Take special care to store fabric made of natural fibers in airtight, sealable containers to prevent moths from accessing them, and make sure storage areas are clean and dry.
If you find clothing moths, dispose of all obviously infested materials and stock immediately. Wash all fabrics stored together if possible. Transfer textiles into plastic protectors and ensure they are properly sealed.
For larger or recurring infestations, you may need to call in professional clothes moth control. We’ll inspect your site and facilities to determine the right course of action.
No, adult webbing clothes moths do not eat clothing, carpets, or furnishings. The damage is caused by their larvae, which look like small, cream-colored caterpillars with brown heads.
Webbing clothes moth larvae feed mainly on materials containing keratin, an animal protein found in natural fibers. This includes wool, cashmere, fur, silk, feathers, hair, felt, leather, and animal-based upholstery, as well as fabrics that blend natural and synthetic fibers.
A clothes moth is usually smaller and less noticeable than a pantry moth. Webbing clothes moths are typically a pale gold-beige, while pantry moths are often pale near the body and reddish-brown or coppery toward the tips. Clothes moths do not like light and mainly stick to the dark spaces where fabrics are likely stored.
Signs include irregular holes in wool, cashmere, silk, fur, feathers, felt, and wool-blend fabrics. Look out for bare areas, loosened fibers, or damage beneath furniture and around edges. If you see small, cream-colored larvae or gold-colored adult moths, these are likely clothes moths.