Clothing Moth Behavior

Clothing moths are a very common household pest. In particular, it is the caterpillar state of this moth that can cause significant damage due to its love for using clothing for food. They tend to prefer wool fabrics but are also known to eat through other natural fibers when they are available. Though less common, they will also infest and eat stored produce items.

Although clothing moths are native to Europe and Asia, global travel has introduced them to the rest of the world so that they are now found almost anywhere. Clothing moths thrive in dark, moist areas where the newly hatched caterpillars can find moist fabrics to eat. In particular, clothing closets, carpeting with some moisture, attics and similar areas are ideal locations for them to live and reproduce.

After hatching, the larvae begin their quest for food and that is when they cause the damage to fibers and produce items in the home. This stage can last from a couple of months to a couple of years before the caterpillar forms and enters a cocoon to transform to an adult moth in about a month. The larvae of the clothing moth are cream-colored a. The adults tend to be slightly darker than the larva with more of a beige color.