The carpet moth has a very similar life cycle to a clothes moth. If you notice small balding patches in the corners and at the edges of your carpets, the chances are that you have an infestation of carpet moths.
The Tapestry Moth or Carpet Moth (Trichophaga tapetzella) is found worldwide. The moth flies from April to October depending on the location and has very distinctive markings asisting with identification (see picture right). The larvae feed on animal skin, bird nests, fur, clothing, carpets and upholstery made of natural fibres or animal skin.
Carpet moths can complete a number of lifecycles within a year and are more like webbing clothes moths in that they spin webbing in areas where they like to reside. You may see these silken cases or threads, either during their life as larvae or after pupation.
Their speed of development depends entirely upon local temperature, humidity and food supplies and can be as fast as 8 weeks from egg to adult, resulting in several generations during the summer, but the last generation of larvae will carry on as larvae through the winter (and eating your carpet) while waiting for the warmer spring temperatures to pupate and re-start the adult cycle. It is not uncommon to find larvae the same colour as your carpet fibres having eaten the dyes in the carpet pile. They will look for undisturbed, darker areas to lay their eggs - hence being more likely found under sofas and other furniture, behind curtains and along skirting boards.
Please note that Clothes Moth larvae are just as likely to eat the wool in carpets - if your carpet moth damage issue looks like it is from a different moth to the Tapestry or Carpet Moth, it may well be Webbing Clothes Moths.
The treatment routines are the same regardless of the type of moth invading your home. You may wish to consider protecting your clothes in wardrobes, cupboards and drawers if you have experienced moths in your home in case they have reached other rooms in the house.
For more information on this topic or need assistance, check our main page here:
auckland pest control, auckland insect control
Getting Out of Trouble with Carpet Dirt Build Up
Dirt is not a difficult problem but if you let it build up for a while or worst for a much longer time, no one can tell if you can still remove it unless you call the experts to do it for you. Carpet dirt is the same story thus it is good to do away with it or else you need not do it yourself.
How to Get Easy on Pest Inside the House
First important thing to consider if you want pest to be out and not inside your house is to avoid attracting it. The more you make their favorites available inside your house, the more you get into trouble.
Working on Carpet Cleaning and How to Make It Better
Give your carpet's dirtiest spots and spills attention first. Here's the thing about carpeting: the plush, dense fibers we love to feel underfoot are also really great at clinging to dust, dirt, smoke, pet odor, and whatever other grime comes through the door.
