Moth (43 Photos): What Does A Moth Eat And How To Get Rid Of It? Means For The Fight. How Do Butterflies Get Started And What Do They Look Like? How Long Does He Live And What Is H

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Surely each of us at least occasionally came across a gluttonous moth in his home. This seemingly harmless winged fly is capable of causing significant damage to things, as well as furniture and food products. A particularly large number of moths are found in a wooden private house. That is why it is very important to know how you can quickly and permanently get rid of this insect.

Description of species

There are several subspecies of the room moth. They are distinguished by their habitat and dietary habits.

Shubnaya

Small insect, wingspan does not exceed 14-16 mm . It is painted in a yellowish-clay color, there are several dark dots above the central part of the wings.

The larvae are whitish, look like worms without hairs … The skin is translucent, through it we can distinguish the stomach and even all of its internal contents. The head of the larva is brown; 8 small legs are located on the side of the abdomen.

This insect only eats things. from natural materials and felt boots … The larvae most often feed on fur. They gnaw all the hairs in the path of their movement, regardless of whether the moth begins to feed on them or not.

Wardrobe

Compared to a fur coat, this is a larger moth, its wingspan reaches 24 mm. The forewings are colored violet-brown, smoothly turning into yellow. The head is pubescent.

Such insects are found in the folds of drape or woolen cloth. From the outside, it is difficult to determine damage to the tissue, the eaten out areas are almost invisible to the eye. However, the material becomes quite thin and breaks through after just a few days of use.

Furniture

Light yellow butterfly with shiny wings and a yellowish-rusty head. The fore winglets in the base area have a pronounced brownish tint. The larvae feed on the upholstery of the hair and damage the upholstery as they move. After pupation, the butterflies get out and nest on the inside of sofas, armchairs and chairs.

The development of the moth is fleeting. If you do not take action in a timely manner, then you can cause significant damage to the furniture in the house.

Grain

A white insect with a silvery tinge. The abdomen is grayish, on the front wings there is a pattern in brown tones. The wingspan is 12-16 mm. Butterflies fly out twice a year - in April and August. During this period, each female can lay up to hundreds of eggs on the grains of bread, the larva braids the cereals with a thin cobweb and feeds on them.

This moth can absorb dried fruits, tea, nuts, grains and legumes.

In the same place, she leaves the skin of caterpillars and the waste of her life. You cannot use such products for food.

Regardless of the species, any mole goes through three stages of life development

• Eggs - almost invisible from the side, their size does not exceed 0.5 mm. The pest lays them on food or things, later they go to food for young larvae.
• The eggs hatch larvae … Despite the fact that their size at the first stage does not exceed one millimeter, their appetite is quite impressive. Therefore, they are rapidly gaining growth and soon reach 10 mm or even more.
• After that, the larvae transform into dolls , butterflies hatch from them. They, in turn, make a new clutch of eggs and thus the life cycle is closed.

The moth lives for about 4-5 weeks . 3 days after the birth of the insect can already do masonry . Therefore, you need to get rid of the pest as quickly as possible, otherwise the population of gluttonous insects in the room will increase exponentially.

How does an insect get into a house?

Many people wonder how the pest starts in the house if the doors are constantly closed and an anti-mosquito net hangs on the windows. There are a lot of ways for this creature to enter the house:

• purchase of new pieces of furniture that have been stored in warehouses for a long time;
• poor quality care of used pieces of furniture, pillows and mattresses;
• moths may end up in the house along with purchased food if the products were stored in unsealed packages or with non-observance of the expiration dates;
• pests can settle in closets after buying second-hand clothes or purchasing used pieces of furniture, mattresses and blankets;
• moth can move in together with donated things;
• this insect easily penetrates into the apartment through the front doors, if felt was used as insulation, as well as through ventilation ducts;
• the pest is often found in multi-storey buildings in a situation where a grocery store or catering enterprise is located on the lower floor;
• if there are fluffy pets in the house, then they can bring insect larvae, as well as adult butterflies home on themselves - the moth often hides in the wool of cats and dogs, using them as a temporary shelter;
• you can even bring pests into the house along with a book from the library.

It is believed that this pest appears only in dirty, unsanitary rooms. Far from it. For moths, the cleanliness of the apartment does not matter if the room contains a food source.

The insect is attracted to places in which there is an adequate supply of food and a lot of fur and woolen things.

How to remove a mole?

The following signs indicate that a mole has appeared in the house:

• in the evenings, moths of a small size, gray or dirty yellow, fly near the lamp;
• white masonry, yellowish larvae or bald spots are noticeable on clothes, blankets and mattresses;
• stocks of cereals lose their crumbly appearance and stick together in lumps;
• in containers containing cereals, sugar, bread and other products, winding tunnels, empty cocoons or even caterpillars are noticeable.

You can kill a mole using professional or "grandmother's" means. The choice depends solely on personal preference and the degree of infection.

Professional remedies

There are many chemicals that allow you to quickly and effectively deal with uninvited guests at home. This method is especially in demand when the source of the moth's origin in the house is unknown.

Aerosols

These are pesticides sold in cylinders in the form of sprays. When using them, it is necessary to take into account the degree of toxicity of the working components, as well as the presence of children and people with allergic diseases in the house. The most popular drugs designed to protect a home from a pest include:

• Raptor - highly effective, but very expensive composition;
• " Clean house "- showed good results when processing bedding and clothes;
• " Armol "- does not contain harmful drugs, therefore it is more often used to treat the kitchen area.

When using aerosols, it is necessary to treat the entire room as a whole, and not just the affected areas. The exposure time of the drug is indicated in the instructions. After this period, you need to open the windows or vents in the room.

Fumigators

Widespread for the destruction of mosquitoes. They come in the form of liquids and plates. Fumigators are less toxic than aerosols, so they can be used in homes where there are people with weakened immune systems.

To carry out processing, liquid is poured into the working container or a plate is installed and connected to an alternating current network. The device starts working immediately and works for a long time. The most popular formulations are Moskitol and Raid.

However, when using fumigators, it must be borne in mind that the cabinets will have to be opened during processing . Otherwise, the concentration of toxic components will be too low and will not have any noticeable effect. In addition, such a tool can be used no more than 4 hours a day.

Pheromone traps

This is one of the most effective ways to rid your home of annoying gnats . The trap is a sticky piece of cardboard saturated with substances similar to the pheromones of female moths. It attracts males, but flying closer, they die. As a result, the entire male part is destroyed - there is no one to create offspring, and the population is gradually becoming obsolete.

Sections

Small containers that contain deterrents. They work for two to three months. The most effective drugs are Raptor and Moskitol.

Pills

Everyone knows that the pest cannot stand the smell of mothballs. That's why many manufacturers of professional chemicals for gnats use this scent … Tablets are laid out on shelves with clothes, they create reliable protection against voracious moths for 1, 5-2 years.

However, it is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of this tool. A persistent smell will be absorbed into clothes and bedding, it will be very difficult to get rid of it. In addition, the tablets contain toxic components, so it is important to place them out of the reach of children.

The use of pills is not recommended in homes where people with cancer live.

Folk methods of struggle

Professional products are toxic, so they have a limited range of applications. In particular, they are not recommended where there are small children, adults with weakened immunity, people with allergic, bronchopulmonary diseases and malignant tumors. In such houses, folk remedies will be the best solution. The most effective are the following options.

Lavender / Fir Oil . It is known that the fur coat moth does not tolerate a pungent aroma. To get rid of such a pest, you need to soak the cotton wool with scented oil and put it in the chest of drawers and wardrobe.

Lavender flowers . One of the most effective folk remedies. To scare away midges, you need to collect flowers and grass in a bunch, dry it, wrap it in gauze and put it in those places where the moth has settled.

Citrus … The zest of lemons, tangerines or oranges is thoroughly dried and placed in a wardrobe, as well as kitchen cabinets where cereals and other food products are stored.

Tansy … People have been using this plant to scare away moths for a long time.

Geranium, pelargonium . These decorative green pets are found in many homes. Their leaves exude a fragrant aroma that most insects, including moths, cannot tolerate.

Allspice, cloves … The smell of these spices can quickly destroy the moth. If you spread them in canvas bags throughout the house, then the insect will very quickly leave the home.

Laundry soap . Many insects do not tolerate the pungent smell of alkali, so you can take a concentrated laundry soap of 70% and put it in the closet.

You can also wash things with soap that might attract the pest.

Temperature exposure . The moth is afraid of too low, as well as high temperatures. Therefore, in hot summer, it is advisable to dry all clothes, blankets, pillows, blankets and mattresses under ultraviolet rays. In winter, they are taken outside for ventilation.

Newspaper … The moth is afraid of the smell of printing dye. If you stuff the sleeves of a fur coat with a wad of newspapers, then be sure that the pest will fly around such a wardrobe.

Features of the removal of different types

The peculiarities of the excretion of moths largely depend on what it eats.

Wardrobe

Having noticed a moth on furniture and in clothes, be sure to inspect the entire closet and the entire room - this butterfly rarely appears in the house alone . Go through the contents of cabinets and textiles, carefully examine the condition of the upholstered furniture. If you find a nest with larvae, it must be eliminated as soon as possible. It is best to use a vacuum cleaner for this and then rinse the area.

Woolen items should be placed in the freezer for several hours. Such processing will leave no chance of survival for a single larva. Wash the rest of the items with detergent at high temperatures.

Clean all outer clothing thoroughly with a brush. Pay special attention to the lining, pleats, and pockets. Try to treat fur coats, as well as coats and jackets with a steam generator - if one is not available, you can rent a tool.

Do a general cleaning of the entire house. Thoroughly clean all blankets, rugs, blankets, curtains and mattresses.

Take things that you cannot wash outside, ideally in clear weather. There they must be kept for at least 2 hours under the influence of direct sunlight.

Food

Food moth degrades the quality of rice and other cereals, spoils nuts, dry fruits and bread. All food in which you find traces of these midges should be disposed of as soon as possible. If at least one larva remains in the food, this can cause serious intoxication of organs and tissues and provoke severe pathologies. Considering that we are talking about combating a food pest, preference should be given to folk methods:

• put clean flour in jars with screw lids;
• treat the shelves of kitchen cabinets with a concentrated soda solution;
• rinse all the cracks of the kitchen set with table vinegar - it is in these places that moths often make masonry;
• put fragrances in the cabinets that repel insects;
• fasten the mesh with small holes to the ventilation duct.

Prevention measures

To prevent the appearance of a voracious insect in the house, it is necessary to adhere to basic preventive measures

• When buying things, regardless of whether they are in-store or used, Take a good look at the seams, lining and pockets . This is especially true when it comes to wool and fur products. If possible, place them on the balcony for 5-8 hours, it is best to do this in sunny or frosty weather.
• Store all bulk food products in containers with airtight lids . Do not purchase food for future use, as with prolonged storage, the likelihood of moths increases.
• Occasionally sort things on the shelves , and wash the cabinets with a solution of laundry soap.
• As a preventive measure against moths, resort to folk formulations - lemon peels or bottles of expired perfume .
• Use an air freshener . When ventilating the room, open the doors of the cabinets.

Remember, if there are no moths in the apartment, this is not at all forever. It is possible that she will appear in your home . Therefore, include prevention in the list of mandatory measures, since the fight against a pest insect can be quite difficult, it will require a lot of energy and effort and cause significant material damage.

Only compliance with all sanitary and hygienic measures helps to protect things and products from the pest.