How long can a moth survive in a house?

Author: Skyla Morar  |  Last update: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

From the day a house moth hatches from an egg to the day it dies as an adult, the timespan can range from 2-4 months. Clothes Moths and Pantry Moths are mainly found in houses. These pestilent moths can live from two to six months depending on the length of each life cycle stage.

What happens if you leave a moth in your house?

Larvae leave holes in fabrics – which means that your clothes and furniture is at risk. When feeding, moths leave behind feces stains. This contaminates foods and other items in the home. The areas of your home where the moths linger may become contaminated with webbing and cocoons.

Should I worry about a moth in my house?

Adult moths are a sign of infested food items in your house. Female moths lay 100 to 400 eggs on or near stored food. The larvae chew through and damage food sources and their packaging, such as plastic bags or thin cardboard. Sealed packages can also get infested.

How long will a moth infestation last?

The entire cycle takes roughly 4-6 months. So, a successful moth battle is twofold: kill the tiny, voracious larvae eating through your natural fiber textiles, and kill the moths before they mate, lay more eggs and begin the life cycle again. Here's how to do it.

Can I sleep if there is a moth in my room?

Rest assured, the kinds of moths that flutter around your room at night won't sting, bite, or otherwise hurt you. Still, you should probably try to catch and remove moths in your bedroom. After all, who wants to wake up to that throughout the night? No thanks!

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Will moths go away on their own?

Finding moth holes in your clothes or baby caterpillars in your pantry is a big bummer. Unfortunately, moths will not go away on their own either.

How to lure a moth out of your room?

As such, the goal here is to systematically turn off the lights in your home to lure a moth back outside. You will turn all of the lights off in your house leaving only one light on near your patio. As the moth seeks new light sources to chase, it will usually fly back outside where it belongs.

What kills moths instantly?

For an instant kill, cleaning containers using a solution of hot soapy water will instantly kill Pantry Moth Eggs. Additionally, freezing items will kill eggs and larvae, although you must wait 72 hours for this method to be effective.

What is the lifespan of a moth in the house?

In the adult stage, the Common Brown House moth can live anywhere between 1-4 months depending on environmental and climatic conditions. From the day a house moth hatches from an egg to the day it dies as an adult, the timespan can range from 2-4 months. Clothes Moths and Pantry Moths are mainly found in houses.

What smell do moths hate?

Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.

Why do moths suddenly appear?

The most common way to contract a moth infestation is by carrying infected items into the home. Food and clothing items that have larvae or eggs hiding within them can introduce a moth problem when you least expect it. Unsealed containers in our pantries are perfect targets for pantry months.

How long do brown moths live in a house?

The adult Brown House Moth has a lifespan of 4-5 months. Within that period, the female House Moth can lay up to 600 eggs. Depending on conditions, such as humidity and temperature, incubation can take anywhere from 8 to 110 days.

What is the most effective moth repellent?

Lavender — Lavender is a widely-loved moth repellent for good reason. Its floral scent is delightful to humans but repulsive to moths. Our 'Protect Me' Scent Bags can be placed in closets and drawers to protect your garments. Plus, they impart a lovely fragrance to all surrounding clothes.

What attracts moths to your house?

Clothes Moth Larvae will eat animal based fibers such as cashmere, wool, silk, and leather. Just having these materials in your home may be enough to attract moths. Open windows, cracks in the siding of your house, or chimneys are all avenues that moths may use to get inside your house.

How do I get a moth out of my house?

If a moth has flown into your house because it was attracted to a light source, you can simply shoo it back outside. However, if you are dealing with a full-on infestation of moths in a closet or pantry, you will need to thoroughly clean all infested areas and take preventative measures to keep pests from returning.

What does it mean when a moth comes in your house?

If you see a moth inside your house, it could mean that your home is full of positivity and comfort. Moths are drawn to light, so your home is likely bright in a literal sense, but it can also be symbolically bright. You've likely built a safe and happy home for yourself, full of light, happiness, and wisdom.

Do moths live in beds?

For instance, some mattresses are stuffed with natural fibers such as wool, feathers or cashmere. While these high-end materials can give you a great night's sleep, they may also attract certain insects, like Clothes Moths, that feed on these materials.

What do moth eggs look like in the house?

Moth eggs are typically tiny and may not be easily noticed without a deliberate search. They can be spherical or oval in shape and are often found in clusters.

What do moths turn into?

Butterflies and moths go through four key stages of metamorphosis; egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult.

Do I need to wash all my clothes if I have moths?

The most common and effective method for killing all stages of clothes moths in clothing, blankets, and other washable articles is to thoroughly launder them for 20 to 30 minutes in water that is at least 120°F.

How do I permanently get rid of moths?

More videos on YouTube
  1. DEEP CLEAN THE AREA - Use soap and water to wipe down surfaces and thoroughly vacuum cracks and crevices.
  2. USE A NATURAL MOTH KILLER - This will safely remove any larvae and eggs that might still be present. ...
  3. STORE CLOTHES CORRECTLY - Ensure you store your clothes in mothproof clothes storage bags.

Can a moth bite you?

No, adult moths do not bite. Moths are mostly harmless, fluttering insects. Because a moth's mouth parts are so small, it is not physically possible for it to bite a human, with few exceptions, including the “vampire moth." The most that will happen is the moth will leave behind a little dust as it flies away.

Why are there moths in my house all of a sudden?

How do moths get into the house? If you find a single moth in your home, it's likely that it has come through the window. But if you're inundated with them it's likely that the larvae has been brought into the home through somebody's shopping or clothes.

What smell do house moths hate?

Another popular choice is lavender. It has a great aroma and can deter moths from the wardrobe. You can make sachets with lavender and other dried plants like bay leaves, peppermint, lemon balm and/or rosemary. You can even add some cedar shavings, too.

How to find where a moth is hiding?

To find a moth in a room, look carefully at the upper part of the wall and scan your entire room. The adult moths are often very pale in colour and hard to spot. Also search for signs underneath low-rise furniture, in darker areas, and where the carpet is undisturbed and most fluffy.

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