Is something chewing holes in your clothes? There are a few pests that may be feeding on the fabrics around your home. That wool blanket you left folded up may now have holes chewed through it and larvae crawling around. Both carpet beetle larvae and case-making clothes moths could cause this type of damage. It’s helpful to know what each of these pests looks like and where they’re often found.
Identifying Carpet Beetle Larvae
Carpet beetle larvae feed on a variety of fabrics, lint, animal hair, dead insects, silk plants, and more. When inside, they can be located anywhere that provides a food source. Often, they will be where dead insects, dead skin and hair accumulate, such as under furniture, air ducts, rugs, clothing, and stuffed animals. Carpet beetles enter your home through cracks in the exterior or hiding on plants that are brought in. They will then lay their eggs inside near food sources. Carpet beetle larvae are about a quarter of an inch in size and are brown to tan in color with white and tan stripes. Black, bristly hairs stand out off their backs. Carpet beetle larvae will damage fabrics as they eat them. You may notice holes and frayed patches on your clothing. Infestations can spread quickly as they travel to different areas of the house in search of more food sources. Prepare yourself to deal with these irritating pests by learning more about carpet beetle larvae.
Identifying Case-Making Clothes Moths
Case-making clothes moths eat a wide variety of organic materials. In addition to clothing, they will feed on feathers, dried herbs, tobacco, animal furs, carpet, furniture, and more. You may notice holes in fabrics around your home, and possibly the moths or larvae themselves. These moths are around 3/8th of an inch to 1/2 an inch in length. They’re brownish-gray in color with three dark spots, more noticeable in younger moths. As larvae, they are worm-like in appearance and cream-colored. They are about a half inch in length and have a case of silk particles that they live in and take with them as they feed. Arm yourself to deal with these pesky pests by learning more about case-making clothes moths.
Preventing Fabric Pests
To prevent damage from these pests, wash fabrics before storing them in sealed containers. Routine vacuuming and dusting can also help. Make sure to seal cracks and crevices to prevent carpet beetles from making their way inside to leave eggs.
Getting Rid of Fabric Pests
It can be difficult to eliminate fabric pests once they’ve infested a home. Their population can increase quickly and so will the damage they cause.
Contact Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators to take care of your fabric pest problems. With 85 years of experience, we can take care of pests efficiently, while preventing new infestations from occurring. Reach out to us to learn more about pest control in Bettendorf and the Quad-Cities!