If you have noticed the first signs of a moth infestation in the carpet, you need to act quickly. We show you how to recognize moths in carpets, how to fight them and how to prevent them from re-infestation.
A moth plague in the house is something nobody wants. But if it does happen and your favorite carpet is perhaps infested with moths, action must be taken. Because the little pests will no longer pull away by themselves. Fortunately, there are some effective, natural ways you can get rid of moths in your carpet and save your favorite items. In this way you can avoid reaching for the chemical club or going to the exterminator in most cases.
Where do moths in the carpet come from?
Most of the time, moths get into the house through carpets and furniture or second-hand clothing bought second-hand. Moths in the carpet are mostly Clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella), which in addition to carpets - mainly made of real wool or silk - also target clothing. However, it is not the small butterflies themselves that are problematic, but their larvae. They mainly feed on keratin, a protein found, for example, in animal and human hair, feathers and parts of the horn. In nature, carpet moths find plenty of food in animal and bird nests. But because the nocturnal moths are attracted by light and optimal living conditions in houses without enemies and temperature fluctuations, the way from the bird's nest to the house is usually no longer far. This can also lead to a moth infestation on carpets without introducing the insects yourself.
Identifying moths in the carpet
At the latest when you see the first moths flying in your home, action is absolutely necessary in order to avoid worse damage. The moths can be recognized relatively easily by their staggering flight, their shiny and ciliate wings and their dark brown to yellowish color. Further indications of a moth infestation on carpets are the following:
- Very small black globules on your carpet; this is probably the droppings of the carpet moths.
- Larvae of carpet moths found on carpets or in clothing; these are white-yellow and can be between 1 mm and 1 cm long, depending on their age.
- The shells of the larvae, as the animals shed their skin several times before they pupate.
- Thin spots or holes in the carpet.
Note: You will probably not find the moth eggs in the carpet as they are only 0.6 mm in size.
To detect a moth infestation as early as possible or to monitor the number of moths in the event of an infestation, pheromone traps like ours are ideal Plantura clothes moth traps at. These moth traps are provided with special sexual attractants that are attractive to male butterflies. Since the traps are also sticky, attracted males stick to the trap so that a moth infestation can be detected early and monitored during the fight. Usually one trap per room is sufficient. It is best to place it in a dark, protected place, as this is the preferred place of residence for the moths during the day. The rolled up carpet in the corner or the piece of carpet under the cupboard, for example, are ideal living spaces.
When using pheromone traps, however, one should keep in mind that they are only used to detect and monitor, not to control moths in carpets. Since only males are attracted by the pheromones, female moths can still hold their up to 250 eggs in Laying carpets and the eggs themselves and the larvae of the moths in the carpet are not affected by pheromone traps influenced.
Fight moths in carpets
Since the moths have usually already nested themselves in the whole room when you discover a carpet infestation, simply removing the carpet often does not help. Instead, it is advisable to fight it on the spot to get the entire room moth-free.
If you keep clothes or the like in this room and have definitely not yet infested them the clothes can be packed in airtight boxes and insulated for a few weeks will. If the clothes are also infected, you will find more tips on how to fight it in our article Moths in the closet.
Furthermore, carpets infested with moths should be vacuumed thoroughly on both sides. The dust bag is then packed airtight and disposed of immediately.
If your carpet can no longer be saved, you should also immediately pack it airtight and dispose of it. Even so, there is a high probability that you will still have moths in the house, so further moth control is essential.
Tip: Still hang while fighting Moth traps to monitor moth numbers and determine when control can be considered successful.
Ichneumon wasps are natural enemies of clothes moths, so that a sustainable and, above all, long-term, permanent elimination of the moths in carpets can be achieved with them. At first it may sound strange to bring more insects into the house to control insects. However, certain parasitic wasps have specialized in parasitizing and killing moth eggs. Due to their specialization, ichneumon wasps are harmless to humans and other animals and you do not have to worry about using them indoors.
Parasitic wasps are so small that literally only dust remains from them when they can no longer find any host eggs and can therefore no longer reproduce. Choose ours Plantura parasitic wasps against clothes moths, you will receive a card with parasitic wasps six times every two weeks. This is necessary to cover the entire life cycle of the moth in the carpet. In the case of large carpets and heavy infestation, it may be necessary to apply several cards at the same time in order to get rid of all the moths in the carpet.
Moths cannot tolerate extreme heat or cold, so a hot wash cycle for smaller carpets and a sauna treatment for larger carpets can help. Moth eggs in particular are better able to cope with extreme cold, which is why carpets for cold treatment should be stored in the freezer for at least four weeks.
Tip: Cracks, for example behind skirting boards, can be heated several times with a hairdryer to kill any eggs that may be present.
If all of the above measures do not work, the exterminator or use of chemical agents to kill the moths in the carpet remains. However, the active ingredients in these often form pyrethroids, which are also toxic to our nervous system. Natural active ingredients such as pyrethrins from chrysanthemums usually lose their effect more quickly or they have been made more stable by additives, but also made more unhealthy. In any case, you should treat infected carpets for a few days after chemical treatment Ventilate so that the substances, which are often toxic or irritating to humans and animals, evaporate can.
Prevent carpet moths
There are a few simple steps you can take to keep moths from choosing your carpets as a new home. This includes vacuuming regularly and checking areas that moths prefer - especially dark corners under furniture. Cracks between wall and floor or behind skirting boards should be sealed with silicone. Fly screens on the windows prevent moths from entering the house, and with moth traps that are changed every three months, you can identify an infestation at an early stage and take appropriate control measures before the moths become a pest will. When buying carpets, look out for the wool seal, which confirms that carpets have been pretreated with insecticides to prevent infestation.
Rolled up carpets in the corner provide ideal living conditions for moths. Since the little pests can quickly spread throughout the house from there, special attention should be paid to these pieces. Clothes moths don't like the smell of lavender or cedarwood - so, for example, soaps or scented sachets can be an effective means of preventing the small butterflies from settling in your carpet. However, it can lead to habituation effects when using it, which is why this method does not cause permanent, long-term deterrence.
Preventing carpet moths at a glance:
- Vacuum regularly and check dark corners
- Seal the cracks with silicone
- Attach the fly screen
- Set up moth traps for control
- Buy pre-treated carpets that will help prevent infestation
- Spread soaps or scented sachets with lavender and cedar wood
If the moths have not only infested your carpets, but have spread, see our articles about Moths in the car and Moths in the closet more helpful tips for fighting in these places.