To get rid of a hiding moth, identify whether it is a clothing moth (hiding in closets/fabrics) or a pantry moth (hiding in dry food). Deep clean the area, vacuum all cracks and crevices, and use Pheromone Sticky Traps to catch the remaining adults.
Actions to reduce moth larvae:
To lure a moth out of hiding, use light, scent, or physical disturbance. Wait until dark, turn off all room lights, and shine a single bright flashlight or lamp toward a wall or into a transparent container. Alternatively, lure them with a sugar-water or fruit mixture.
To completely eliminate a moth infestation, you must kill both the adult moths and their hidden larvae (which actually do the damage). The most effective methods depend on which type of moth you are dealing with.
How to get rid of moths inside your house
Adult moths found fluttering inside a house live for only 30 to 45 days. In contrast, the entire life cycle (egg, destructive larva, and pupa) can last from two months up to several years if the infestation is left unaddressed and continues to breed indoors.
Autumn is the time when a lot of pretty autumnal moths appear, mostly Noctuids along with the chance of immigrant species. A selection here in no particular order, from late September and early October in my Hollesley garden.
Moth season typically spans April to October, with peak activity during the spring and late summer months. Because warmer temperatures speed up their lifecycle and reproduction, you will notice the most moths around April and May, and again in August and September.
Moths don't build nests like birds; instead, they cluster eggs and silky webbing in dark, undisturbed areas with a reliable food source. To find the infestation, track the larvae by searching for holes in fabrics or webbing in food packaging, and inspect deep within dark closets, pantries, and floorboards.
Adult clothing moths don't OR damage clothing. But, even though they don't do damage, they are still a problem. Their purpose is to lay eggs. The more eggs they are able to lay, the more eggs you'll have hatching inside your home, and the more fabric-eating larvae you'll have crawling around.
At a glance
Should you touch the wings? No, because they could be damaged. Do they have scales on their wings? Yes, in fact that's what 'Lepidoptera' (the scientific classification of butterflies and moths) means, and the scales do get rubbed off by friction.
Moths and their caterpillars are a vital food source for a vast range of wildlife. Key predators include bats, birds (which feed thousands of caterpillars to their chicks), spiders, frogs, lizards, and smaller mammals like shrews and rodents.
5 ways to get rid of moths
Key signs of a moth infestation in your home:
Silky tunnels or furrows found near or in wool fabric and clothing; also sometimes seen in grains and other dried foods. Crust-like spots on rugs, draperies, and clothing. Tiny, sticky tubes (larva casings) on fabric and rugs or in the corners of a room/closet.
Try leaving an outside or porch light on after dark, and look for moths on lighted windows or lit walls and fences.