Household Insects · Pest guide
Moths control
Pantry moths in the flour and clothes moths in the closet.
Moths at a glance
- Scientific name
- Plodia interpunctella, Tineola bisselliella and others
- Size
- 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6–13 mm) wingspan-length adults
- Appearance
- Pantry moths: two-toned wings; clothes moths: small, golden-buff
- Where found
- Pantries (grains, flour, nuts, bird seed); closets with wool and silk
- Health riskLow
- Property damageModerate
- Do it yourself?Usually DIY
- Jan Low
- Feb Low
- Mar Low
- Apr Active
- May Active
- Jun Peak
- Jul Peak
- Aug Peak
- Sep Active (this month)
- Oct Active
- Nov Low
- Dec Low
Low Active Peak This month
Signs to look for
- Webbing and clumps in flour, cereal or grains
- Small larvae crawling on pantry walls or ceilings
- Irregular holes in wool clothing or rugs
Call a professional when
- Clothes moths damage valuable textiles or carpets despite cleaning
- Moths keep returning from a hidden source
Quick prevention
- Store dry foods in airtight glass or plastic containers
- Clean pantry shelves and cracks
- Clean wool clothes before storing them
Our moths guides are being researched. Meanwhile, the profile above covers the signs, the risks and when to call a professional.
Keep moths out
- Store dry foods in airtight glass or plastic containers
- Clean pantry shelves and cracks
- Clean wool clothes before storing them
- Use pheromone traps to monitor
Often confused or found together
All household insects
Photo credits
Thank you to Mvuijlst, Luis Fernández García, Syrio and Irina Petrova for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.