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.
Most moth infestations come from the pantry moth or clothes moths. 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.
Moths dislike the scent of cedarwood. You can use cedar blocks, cedar chips, or cedar oil to deter them. Place these in your closets, drawers, or other moth-prone areas. Like cedarwood, moths are also repelled by the scent of lavender. You can use dried lavender sachets or lavender essential oil to keep them away.
Natural scents like lavender are also sometimes effective at keeping away flying adult moths but, as with all natural moth repellents, they don't have any effect on moth larvae. After cedar, the next best option is lavender, followed by bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme.
Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.
If you sleep with the TV or lights on, there's a good chance that non-pestilent moths will flutter into your bedroom and bother you while you try to sleep. This can be pretty unsettling, especially if you are just drifting off and a moth decides to land on your nose!
Neem Oil and Lavender are both proven natural pest repellents, particularly effective against Moths. Pyrethrum Daisies, used in our Moth Herbs, are a natural form of the main chemical ingredient in Moth Balls, an effective natural Moth repellent.
Stored Food Moths
Pantry goods attract moth species that lay their eggs in stored grains and processed products. These pests often come into homes inside infested food packages. Once inside, their eggs hatch into larvae that eat grains, dried nuts, cereals, and a variety of processed products.
So, clothes moths may live one month, eggs may take less than ten days to hatch, larvae will reach maturity in about a month and the pupate stage will last about two to three weeks. So to get rid of a moth infestation, you would need to hammer all stages for at least four to five weeks to break the life cycle.
If there is a steady food supply, pantry moths will not go away and continue laying eggs. They will go away if all food is removed, but this process can take weeks or even months.
To create a simple moth trap in a matter of minutes, all you need is a white sheet and a bright lamp or torch. Peg the sheet up onto your washing line, turn off nearby lights, switch on your torch and wait patiently.
They Are Looking For Food Sources. Moths are also attracted to food sources. If you have any plants in your home that are attracting bugs, moths will be drawn to them. Additionally, if you have any pet food or bird feeders outside your home, moths will be drawn to those as well.
Behavior – Butterflies are active during the day, whereas most species of moths are active at night, or during dawn and dusk. But this is not always the case!
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.
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.
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.
-Natural oils such as cedar oils and cedar chests are said to repel clothing moths, but the University of California at Davis Integrated Pest management center says there is little research to support this fact. You can try various natural oils, especially cedar, to repel moths.
Avoid direct contact with garments –instead, slip cedar into socks or stockings. Replace cedar every few years or sand lightly to refresh scent. Naphthalene mothballs keep Moths out of clothing but must be used carefully, especially around children.