Annoying Small Moths

[DorsetDude]

This time of year when retiring for the evening I seem to always see one, sometimes 2 little dark coloured moths on the wall somewhere in the bedroom. About 1cm long and parallel narrow folded wings about 4mm wide. Look a bit like this:


At first I thought they were coming in from outside because at this time of year I have the windows open more often. But I began to wonder if they are in fact an internal problem. I havent found any clothes with holes in yet or any holes in the carpet in the bedroom. But in other rooms I have found holes in the carpet in dark areas/behind furniture usually localised to only one area in that room.

Anyway bought up half of wilkinsons stock of clothes moth killer tabs and also ordered a kit off amazon comprising some powder, a spray and a smoke burner thing which I havent used yet I think I also need to get hold of some pheromone traps.

Last week I moved all the furniture out of the way and had a good hoover all round the unfrequented areas and laid all the killer tabs round the edge of the carpet.

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar and managed to cure the problem?

Cheers

[EDIT: and before anyone asks, no, I dont keep my wallet in the bedroom! ]

 

[Cobra]

Clothes moths,
Going on the description of the damage,
it certainly sounds like like it.

But don't forget its only the Larvae that do the damage.
They feed off animal protein, that is carpets with a wool content, wool jumpers leather coats etc.

In all the years of killing these things,
probably 1% have actually attacked hanging clothes.
Much preferring the dark corners and edges to carpet,
behind furniture that rarely if ever gets moved, like a very heavy dresser etc.

OK so you have hoovered up some of the eggs and Larvae,
I hope you thoroughly cleaned out the vacuum cleaner,
otherwise they will be alive and well feeding off the detritus in there.
Shed human skin for example.

I wouldn't bother smoke bombing the house, just splat the moths as you see them. (It won't kill the larvae)
And yes there is a fair chance that that they did come in from out-side originally.

The larvae of any insect species, are pretty damned resilient.
This is how the species survives.

A professional pestie will put down a very strong water based insecticide,
(there are a few products available to them.)
In the form of "Barriers" around the edges of all the carpets,
and particularly soaking the infested area.

These products continue to work for a couple of weeks
even though they have dried (invisibly) in the carpet.
The Larvae continue to feed on the poisoned food source and die.

I've no idea of the cost in your area, but an educated guess would be less than £100.

Now for the DIY version.
Don't worry about pheromones,
The killer tabs, are they going to eat them?
I doubt it.

The "Spray" soak the infested area with it, directly onto the carpet,
but test a small area first of course.
Unfortunately publicly available products, have very little residual properties
and last a couple of days.


Another option, that is effective up to a point is ant powder,
All along the edge of carpet, and preferably down the edge of the carpet.
They will hide under the carpet when resting,
and come back up from under too feed.

Do you have a "Country wide" type farm store near you?
They shouldn't sell it to the general public, but they do sometimes,
Just go in scruffy and tell them your a farmer if they ask
"Ficam W" is a professional grade insecticide that has residual properties.
This is the least invasive or harmful to pets and kids.
If you get it, (It needs diluting and applied with a spray)
Keep kids and pets away until it dries.
a couple of hours in this weather.

HTH

 

[viv1969]

Apart from anything else, they're creepy little barstewards....I hate moths.
They generally get this

 

[DorsetDude]

Thanks for the detailed reply Chris.

The vacuum cleaner, I just emptied it out into a bag and threw the bag in the dustbin outside.

The tabs I put down werent for eating but supposedly gave off a pong to kill the moths/larva.

The £100 cost, would that be for a room or a whole 2 bed house? Would I ring the council or look through yellow pages?

I dont think theres a countrywide farm shop around here.

I will go around again with the spray thing and do the edges of the carpets.

This is the stuff I got off amazon.

Thanks again.

 

[SickAsAParrot]

Have a look see if there are any wallpaper edges sticking up slighlty, they will lay their eggs behind those.

 

[DorsetDude]

Have a look see if there are any wallpaper edges sticking up slighlty, they will lay their eggs behind those.

Emulsioned walls.

 

[Cobra]

Thanks for the detailed reply Chris.

The vacuum cleaner, I just emptied it out into a bag and threw the bag in the dustbin outside.

The tabs I put down werent for eating but supposedly gave off a pong to kill the moths/larva.

The £100 cost, would that be for a room or a whole 2 bed house? Would I ring the council or look through yellow pages?

I dont think theres a countrywide farm shop around here.

I will go around again with the spray thing and do the edges of the carpets.

This is the stuff I got off amazon.
Thanks again.

No worries Keith
Vacuum cleaner, that should be OK.

The fog Fumers, one is not big enough to do the job.
(cover the whole house)

And only kills flying insects, but are a "one hit wonder".
Brilliant for killing cluster flies in a roof space, though.

But there is no harm in letting it off in your bedroom, I think you said was the problem area?
"crack open" the windows, shut the door and b****r off for a couple of hours if you do.
But put the damned thing on a brick or something else substantial, they get very hot at the base.

Alternatively, open all the up stairs doors, crack open all the windows,
and let it off on the landing. But as before place it on something like a brick or even a metal backing tray, they spark a little
before firing off a the insecticide.
Run like hell. Its only a short fuse


The Powder is permethrin based, thats not a bad insecticide TBH.
But a professional will use a Larvaecide
The spray, doesn't give much away as to its active ingredients, so I cant really comment.

I would expect a professional to do the whole house for that,
going around all the edges of the carpets, top to bottom.

See how you get on, I do know an independent guy down your way,
I'll sort out his contact details if you like.
He'll give you a no obligation quote probably over the phone.

(Tell him you know me, he'll add my 50% commission, so you don't need to send a cheque )

But as above, see how you go, you may save yourself circa £100,
if it's only a mild infestation

 

[Alastair]

The cats brought some "little friends" home a couple of years ago, I fumed the house with Fortefog P which did the job in one go. According to the instrictions it will also be effective agains clothes moths but at a higher treatment level. Just make sure you plan the treatment before you start.. protecting any pets, removing batteries from smoke alarms, working out which order you'll light the smokes to let you get out the house without fumigating yourself.

 

[DorsetDude]

Once again thanks all.

Chris:
Live in a bungalow so the landing idea could be tricky.

The blurb with the fumer does say to be sure to put it on a baking tray or something. I might have a go at the weekend. Plan is to strip the bed, mattress off and lean against wall, lift the divan bit up similarly, Hoover under the bed, then set the fumer off and vacate for a few hours. Probably open the wardrobe doors as well during. Spray under bed on floor if any left before making the bed up again.

Went round the bedroom with the wet spray last night, used up over half of it on just one room. And of course found another moth or 2 behind various units so the previous stuff I put down not done a lot.

I think I m going to have to have a proper spring clean round all the carpeted rooms, moving all the shelves and units out hoovering and spraying or powdering behind the units. At least the 2 cats cant get behind the units once Ive put it all back. Its just wondering what to put down behind is the issue, Im going to run out of spray soon. The powder should go a bit further but i'll need some more I expect or maybe the ant killer stuff you mentioned..

The details of the guy you know would be appreciated. If I do get to the point of calling him presumably I need to get all the furniture/units in all rooms moved out of the way before he visits?

--

Alistair, good call re the smoke alarm! I'll only fumigate the bedroom though. Works well as I dont let the cats in there anyway generally. So less risk to them.

 

[Cobra]

LOL OK fair do's on the bungalow.
As previously, wet sprays for amateur use do not have any residual value or properties.
2 days max if you are lucky.
One thing I have never tried on Larvae, works great on crawling insects, like ants,
is Diatomus earth. (I think its available for amateur use)
Its basically microscopic calcified algae, sharp as a razor to insects. And very dry.
Cuts them to pieces and sucks out the body fluids.

If you need more spray or powder, go for any insect killer fly's ants etc.
But look for the names "Pymethrin" "Pyrethrum" or Bendiocarb preferably at a strength (should be printed on the label) of 0.05% w/w
All these are reasonable amateur use pesticides.
But they are not Larvaecides.

Professional sprays for this type of problem also contain a growth inhibitor (IGR)
what the insecticide / larvaecide doesn't kill will stop the eggs from hatching or the larvae from changing to adults.

If you have a professional around he will expect that most, if not all the furniture to be away from the walls, so he can
either get behind it, or at least get his spray bar behind it.

I'll drop you a PM a bit later on today with the contact details.
Or go HERE put the details in the boxes and it should give you a list
of qualified guys in your area.