What Kind Of Moth Do I Have?

When moths get into a home, they can do all sorts of damage. Well, to be honest, it is mostly their babies that do the damage. But, those moths that are fluttering around are the warning sign that you have a problem to address.

The last way you want to find out you have moths is to pull out your favorite shirt from the closet and find out that it has holes in it.

Or to pour some cereal out and find webbing--and wonder how long you've been eating that cereal with bugs in it.

So, what kind of moth do you have? Do you have the kind that is going to eat holes in your favorite clothing or the kind that will leave a minefield in your stored food products?

The easiest way to figure out what kind of moth you have is by where you find the moth.

If it is fluttering around in your closets, it is probably a clothing moth.

These moths deposit their eggs on clothing and other natural fabrics so that the babies have easy access to a meal after they hatch. It wouldn't be advantageous for a case making clothes moth to be hanging out in a pantry.

If the moth you find is clinging to a wall of your pantry, it is probably an Indian meal moth.

These moths deposit their eggs in stored food products. But, what if you don't find the moth in either of these two places?

Indian meal moths and clothing moths may look the same with a casual glance, but they are actually quite different in coloring.

Indian Meal Moth

It is mostly the Indian meal moth that will help you determine which moth you have. The Indian meal moth has bands of coloring and the ends of its wings are a rusty-orange color from the halfway point back.

Clothing Moth

Case making clothes moths are a solid tan color. You may also notice that clothing moths have a fluffy head. The head of an Indian meal moth is more insect-like, and not fluffy at all.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter which of these two moths you have inside your home. Neither one of them will make your life better.

If you're dealing with a moth issue, let the experts here at American Pest help you take care of it.

We've been serving Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland since 1925. And, we're still providing the best service in the industry. Just ask our customers.

They've made us an Angie's List Super Service Award winner for the last 6 years. Find out why folks are so happy when they choose American Pest. Give us a call today.