Moth Infestations | What Attracts Moths to Your House? | Orkin (2024)

FAQs

Moth Infestations | What Attracts Moths to Your House? | Orkin? ›

Many people wonder what brings these pests indoors. Common knowledge holds that light attracts moths, and this is true in many cases. Moths often gather around outdoor lighting or windows at nighttime, where they may move inside through small cracks or when doors and windows are opened.

Food sources that attract moths include wool, natural fibers, leather, feathers, felt, fur, and certain dry goods or pantry items. Most Common Causes of Moths in a Home Include: Food sources - such as wool, silk, leather, or grain items.

"Clothes moths can enter homes by hiding out in clothing, furniture or home goods purchased from thrift stores, garage sales or consignment shops; and pantry moths can enter via eggs laid in foods like flour, cereal, beans and dried fruit," added Tucker.

Key signs of a moth infestation in your home:

Irregular holes in your clothing. Fur garments and accessories that shed excessively. Moths flying around or crawling on items in your home. Silky tunnels or furrows found near or in wool fabric and clothing; also sometimes seen in grains and other dried foods.

Generally, no. Moths are not dangerous in your home. Most moths that fly into houses are either Clothes and Carpet Moths, common millers, or Pantry Moths. None of these types of moths are toxic, have stingers, or can cause harm to people in general.

Keep storage areas for clothing and other belongings dry.

Moths thrive in moist, humid surroundings. Avoid storing clothes or belongings in basem*nts, garages, outdoor sheds, or other areas that can be exposed to changes in the weather. Put them in an indoor closet, room, or in the attic.

Clothes laundered in water hotter than 60°C for 20 minutes will get rid of moths — although don't make a habit of it as using hot water is less eco-friendly. Always check the clothes label for washing instructions.

Moths, like many insects, simply can't stand the smell of some of the most aromatic herbs, like mint, lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Use this to your advantage to create natural moth repellents in your home.

Moths and butterflies are rather short-lived in the adult stage. They live only 2–3 weeks on average. In a house where they cannot find a nectar source they would not last more than a few days.

In the United States, Moth Season usually starts in the spring and ends two to four weeks after you first begin seeing the moths emerge. During this 2-4 week period, the moths will mate and females will lay their eggs to make room for a new generation.

Do moths go away on their own? ›

Once you've identified you have a moth issue, it's time to take action. It's hard to pinpoint how these things get indoors in the first place, but they do not go away on their own, says Suiter.

Many people think that flying termites are like moths — they buzz about your porch or driveway lights, using them to navigate and even find sources of food. But though they're similarly attracted to light, flying termites don't go into your home to swarm and mate.

Adult moths will not hurt you and many species do not even have mouths. The problem is that certain species of moths lay eggs inside of homes. These eggs hatch into very destructive larvae that can eat through natural materials or grains.

Rest assured, the kinds of moths that flutter around your room at night won't sting, bite, or otherwise hurt you. Still, you should probably try to catch and remove moths in your bedroom. After all, who wants to wake up to that throughout the night? No thanks!

Some species of moth can harm you by causing lepidopterism or caterpillar dermatitis. This is a form of skin condition that happens when the skin comes in contact with moth and butterfly caterpillars.

They avoid light and are most commonly found in dark locations such as basem*nts, attics and closets. Within these locations, moths can be found in the folds of fabrics or hiding in corners.