Moth Control: a Cape Town guide

Know what you are dealing with

The webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, is a small, pale gold moth that avoids light, and its larvae feed on wool, cashmere, silk, fur, feathers and woollen carpets. The case-bearing clothes moth is similar but its larvae carry a small silk tube around as they feed. The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, has wings that are pale near the body and coppery towards the tips, and its larvae spin webbing through muesli, nuts, dried fruit, flour, birdseed and dog food. The brown house moth is a common scavenger in older homes, feeding on wool, fluff and debris under floorboards and in wall voids. The big moths that fly into lights at night on a summer evening are garden species and are not the ones damaging your clothes or food.

Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts

For families with young children and pets, we lean on cleaning, freezing and pheromone traps, and keep chemical treatment to carpet edges and empty cupboards.

For landlords, moth damage in a furnished rental can be a sticking point at the end of a lease. A note on regular vacuuming and storage helps both sides.

Pantry moths can travel a surprising distance from their source. A bag of birdseed in the garage can be the cause of moths in a bedroom.

Warning signs

1. Small, irregular holes appear in woollen jerseys, suits, scarves or blankets, often in hidden areas like under collars and arms.
2. Bare patches show up in woollen rugs or carpets under beds, sofas and other heavy furniture.
3. You find small silk tubes or cases stuck to fabric, carpets or the corners of cupboards.
4. Small pale moths flutter away when you open a wardrobe or move clothes on the rail.
5. Webbing clumps together cereal, nuts or pet food in the pantry.
6. Small whitish caterpillars crawl up pantry walls or across the ceiling looking for somewhere to pupate.
7. Moths are seen resting on the ceiling of the kitchen or a bedroom in the evening.

Clothes moths can ruin expensive wool and silk clothing, heirloom blankets, wool carpets and upholstery, and the damage is often only noticed months later. Pantry moths contaminate food with webbing, droppings and larvae, and infested food must be thrown away. For retailers, hotels, guesthouses and textile businesses, moth damage to stock or furnishings means real financial loss. Neither moth is known to carry disease, but both spread from room to room and cupboard to cupboard if they are ignored.

Can you do it yourself?

Pantry moths can often be solved at home with a ruthless clean-out and sealed containers, and we would say try that first. Clothes moths are harder, because the larvae hide in carpets, under furniture and in the corners of wardrobes, and missing a single spot means the problem returns. If you have valuable woollens, wool carpets or the moths keep coming back after cleaning, it is worth getting us in.

Seasonal pattern

Both moths are more active in warm weather, so problems usually become obvious from late spring through summer. Clothes moth damage is often discovered in autumn when people pull their winter woollens out of storage for the first cold front. Heated homes and warm pantries can see moth activity all year round.

Prevention checklist

• Wash or dry clean woollens before packing them away for summer, because moths prefer fabric with sweat and food stains on it.
• Store woollen clothes and blankets in sealed bags or containers, not in open shelves or cardboard boxes.
• Vacuum under beds, sofas and along carpet edges regularly, since moths thrive in dark, undisturbed spots.
• Take clothes out of the wardrobe and shake them every few weeks, as clothes moths dislike disturbance and light.
• Keep cereals, nuts, dried fruit and pet food in airtight containers, and check birdseed before bringing it inside.
• Freeze second-hand woollens, rugs or vintage clothing for a few days before putting them with your own things.

What affects the price

The cost depends on whether it is a clothes moth or pantry moth problem, the number of rooms or cupboards involved, and whether carpets and upholstery need treatment. Larger homes, guesthouses and retail spaces with many wardrobes or storage areas take more time and may need a follow-up visit. We give a free quote, usually after seeing photos or doing a quick inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we cover for moth control