Although very different in appearance and habits both are pests which eat animal fibres such as wool carpets and cashmere or mohair clothing.
Can moths eat carpets.
You may also consider using a dry cleaning service or a carpet steamer to do a deep clean of any rugs made of natural fibers.
See the moth identification guides on this site for more information.
The case bearing clothes moth builds itself a portable case out of debris such as fibres and hairs in which they can hide.
Carpet moths can eat their way through thick wool carpets and even manmade fibre carpets at incredible speed leaving your flooring with unattractive patches.
When these eggs hatch the larvae may not eat the fibres of synthetic carpets but they will eat the dirt that collects in it.
If you can count around 5 moths in one room it s considered a serious moth infestation.
Moths and carpet beetles love to eat under a sofa that is never moved to vacuum under it.
It is not likely that you will find pantry moths in your bedrooms but in living areas you may have one or both types especially if close to kitchen areas with stored dried food.
Clothes moths and carpet beetles.
Avoid fabric containers which moths can eat through.
Pantry moth larvae will not eat your carpets and rugs but may be seen as they try to locate.
The case bearing moth larvae eat keratin similarly to webbing clothes moths and found in animal based fabrics clothing and home textiles including carpets and rugs.
Carpet moths are mostly attracted to natural fibres and can destroy carpets all around your home.
Here is a video that shows you what the damage looks like and where to look.
To eliminate carpet moths use a moth spray designed for use on carpets.
And damage will be found underneath the rug on the back side.
You need only apply it along the edges but ensure the treatment reaches the base of the tufts where the larvae feed by parting the rows with your hand repeat after 30 days.
There are two main types of insect which cause serious damage to textiles in the british isles.
Carpet moth larvae feed predominately on keratin found in natural fibres such as wool and so can live on any carpet with some wool content.
The life cycle of a carpet moth clothes moth.
Even if you don t have wool or silk carpets and most people don t that doesn t mean that they will be moth free.