What Are Moths?
Not all moths are pests. The moths fluttering around your porch light at night are harmless. But two types of moths—pantry moths and clothes moths—cause significant damage to stored food and fabrics in Texas homes.
What most people don't realize is that adult moths don't cause the damage. It's the larvae (caterpillars) that infest your food or chew through your favorite sweater.
These pests are notoriously difficult to eliminate because they hide eggs in the smallest cracks and crevices, and a single missed package of infested food can restart the entire infestation.
Types of Problem Moths
1. Indian Meal Moth (Pantry Moth)
Small, ⅜ inch wingspan, reddish-brown wings with gray base. Most common pantry pest. Infests grains, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, pet food. Larvae spin silken webbing in food.
2. Clothes Moth (Webbing)
Tiny, ½ inch wingspan, golden-buff color. Avoid light. Larvae feed on natural fibers—wool, silk, fur, feathers. Create small holes in fabrics and leave silken cases.
3. Casemaking Clothes Moth
Similar size to webbing clothes moth but larvae create portable silken cases they carry while feeding. More common in warmer climates. Damage similar to webbing clothes moth.
4. Angoumois Grain Moth
Smaller than Indian meal moth, light tan color. Attacks whole grains especially. Larvae develop inside individual kernels. Less common but highly damaging to stored grains.
Identification Guide
Size
Pantry moths: ⅜ inch | Clothes moths: ½ inch | Larvae: ½ inch when mature
Color
Pantry moths: reddish-brown/gray | Clothes moths: golden-buff | Larvae: white/cream
Shape
Narrow wings held close to body at rest, larvae worm-like
Behavioral Signs
- Pantry moths fly around kitchen in erratic patterns
- Clothes moths avoid light, found in closets and storage
- Adults don't feed—damage is from larvae only
- Most active at dusk and night
Signs of Moth Infestation
Pantry Moth Indicators:
- Small moths flying in kitchen, especially near ceiling
- Silken webbing in corners of food packages
- Small holes in bags of flour, grain, or cereal
- Clumped together dry goods
- Larvae (small white worms) in food products
- Pupae (cocoons) in pantry corners or ceiling edges
Clothes Moth Indicators:
- Small irregular holes in wool, silk, or fur items
- Thin silken tubes or cases in closets
- Fine dust (frass) on or under affected items
- Moths flying weakly in closets when disturbed
- Damaged areas on rugs, especially in dark corners
Damage Caused by Moths
Pantry Moth Damage
- Contaminate food with larvae, webbing, and excrement
- Entire pantry may require cleaning and disposal
- Can infest dozens of products before detected
- Spread to pet food, birdseed, decorative items
- Cost of replacing contaminated food adds up quickly
Clothes Moth Damage
- Irreparable holes in expensive wool clothing
- Damage to upholstered furniture with natural fibers
- Destruction of rugs, especially vintage or wool
- Loss of sentimental items—wedding dresses, heirlooms
- Damage accumulates slowly before noticed
Prevention Strategies
Pantry Moth Prevention
- Inspect all dry goods when bringing home from store
- Store grains, cereals, and dry goods in airtight containers
- Clean pantry shelves regularly, vacuum corners
- Rotate stock—use older products first
- Don't overbuy dry goods that sit for months
- Check pet food, birdseed, decorations with natural materials
Clothes Moth Prevention
- Clean all clothing before long-term storage
- Store wool and silk in sealed plastic containers or bags
- Use cedar blocks or lavender sachets in storage
- Vacuum closets and drawers regularly
- Avoid storing items in cardboard boxes
- Air out and brush wool items periodically
- Keep closets well-lit—moths avoid bright areas
Professional Moth Treatment
Moth elimination requires meticulous inspection, disposal of infested items, and targeted treatments to prevent reinfestation.
Pantry Moth Treatment Protocol
Complete Pantry Inspection
Examine every package, including unopened ones. Check pet food, decorative items, spices
Disposal & Deep Cleaning
Remove all infested items. Vacuum all shelves, corners, cracks. Wash shelves with soap and hot water
Crack & Crevice Treatment
Apply residual insecticide to pantry cracks, hinges, and corners where pupae hide
Pheromone Traps
Install monitoring traps to catch remaining adults and detect future activity
Clothes Moth Treatment Protocol
Closet & Storage Inspection
Examine all wool, silk, and fur items. Check under furniture, behind baseboards
Item Treatment
Infested items frozen for 72 hours or dry cleaned. Vacuuming of all storage areas
Residual Treatment
Application to cracks, baseboards, and areas where larvae develop
Treatment Cost Expectations
Note: Cost of replacing infested food or damaged clothing not included
Common Questions
Q: Where do pantry moths come from?
Pantry moths typically arrive in infested products from the grocery store—already containing eggs or larvae. Even sealed packages can be infested at the manufacturing facility.
Q: Do I have to throw away all my pantry food?
Not necessarily. Unopened cans and jars are safe. Dry goods in sealed plastic or glass containers that show no signs of infestation can be kept. When in doubt, freeze for 4 days or discard.
Q: Can moths damage synthetic fabrics?
Clothes moths only feed on natural fibers—wool, silk, fur, feathers. However, they will damage blended fabrics that contain some natural fibers or feed on food stains on any fabric.
Q: How do I know if moths are gone?
Pheromone traps help monitor for adult moths. If no moths are caught for 6-8 weeks after treatment and no new damage appears, the infestation is likely eliminated.
Protect Your Food & Fabrics
Don't let moths destroy your belongings.
Let us eliminate the infestation completely.