Moths

Moth Control from Rentokil

Protecting Your Home from Moths

While moths do not pose a health risk, they are a pest in homes because of the severe damage their larvae cause to clothes, fabrics, furs, leather and carpets.

This damage may continue for many weeks after moth caterpillars have hatched.  Serious harm may have been done before numbers of flying moths are seen and so prevention of a moth problem is important.

While a minor infestation of moths can be dealt with using DIY products, an established moth problem is likely to require professional assistance.

Signs of a Moth Problem

Often the first sign of a moth problem will be damage to fabrics but there will usually be other indicators:

• adult moths (often crawling rather than flying)
• maggot-like larvae (moth caterpillars)
• the silken tubes or cases in which moth larvae live
• pupae (silk cocoons) in which larvae turn into moths

Please note, another common cause of damage to carpets or fur may be due to fur beetles or carpet beetles rather than moths. Please refer to our guide to carpet beetles for further information.

Identifying Moths

There are four common species of moth infestation in the home:

• Adults 6-8mm with straw-coloured wings and no markings
• Larvae creamy white with a brown head and up to 10mm long
• The moth larvae make irregular holes in fabrics

• Found particularly with imported animal fabrics
• Adults 6mm long with a dark-buff colour and three faint spots
• Creamy-white larvae up to 10mm
• Makes more regular holes in fabric than common clothes moth

• adults 8-14mm and brown with three or four darker spots
• Larvae up to 20mm, off-white with brown head
• Larvae feed on a wide range of animal textiles including wool, leather and feathers

• adults 6-10mm with a white head and mottled wings
• Larvae up to 12mm, cream coloured with red-brown head
• Larvae scavenge on wide range of food. Less damaging to textiles than clothes or brown house moths.

How to keep moth problems away

It is difficult to keep moths from entering an open window or door, although it is advisable to draw the curtains or use a fly screen when windows are open at night, when moths will be attracted to lights.

Once inside, moths lay eggs in dark and rarely disturbed areas where clothes or other textiles are stored.

High risk areas include spare rooms, under beds and infrequently used cupboards or wardrobes. Lofts are also at risk because moths are attracted to bird nests that may be in the eaves of the house.

Dirty or soiled clothing is particularly attractive to moths, so always clean clothes before storing them.

Where textiles are to be stored for a period of time, keep them in sealed plastic bags or suitcases.

Ensure hidden areas such as under furniture are regularly vacuumed to remove moth eggs before they hatch. This is particularly important if there has been a previous infestation or if you have noticed increased levels of moth activity.

How to get rid of moths

Rentokil offers a range of DIY products that kill moths, their larvae and their eggs.  However, an established moth infestation may require professional pest control.

DIY Moth Control

Moth balls containing naphthalene were the traditional preventative treatment for moths.  However, we do not endorse using these products because of the chemicals used and the residual odours they produce.

Instead, Rentokil Moth Killer Strips are a highly effective but odourless product to protect stored clothes and other fabrics.

Moths flying in the home can be controlled using Rentokil Fly & Wasp Killer or Insectrol Moth Killer sprays.

Where the source of a small infestation has been traced, the area can be treated with Rentokil Ant & Crawling Insect Spray to kill moth eggs and larvae. After treatment, vacuum the area well and repeat treatment at least weekly until there are no signs of reinfestation.

Professional Moth Control

While DIY products can deal with smaller moth infestations, a professional pest control service will be required for larger or repeat infestations.

Rentokil technicians have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with moths and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.

Rentokil Pest Control offers a call-out service to treat moths or any other pest problem in the home.  The service is fast, effective and affordable.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a range a visit from one of our service technicians, call us free on 0800 218 2210.