Food moth: how to remove it using chemicals, repellents and folk remedies

Almost every person at least once encounters the appearance of clothes moths in the house. No one is immune from pests; even a clean and well-kept apartment can be susceptible to invasion by these flying insects.

The small gray butterfly is quite dangerous for humans: it damages wooden furniture, things (woolen sweaters, shawls, fur coats), as well as bulk products.

It is difficult to remove moths, because insects reproduce very quickly. However, there are many folk and professional remedies that can cope with pest infestations in a short time.

Where do moths come from in the house?

Before breeding a gray butterfly, it is useful to find out which ways it gets into the house.

Moths enter an apartment in the following ways:

with food from the store. Moth larvae easily gnaw through even sealed plastic packaging; it is quite difficult to notice them in a timely manner;
Furnished. Pests rarely appear in new furniture, but old furnishings are an excellent place for feeding and breeding insects;
through vents, windows and doors. An adult can fly in from neighbors. Residents of apartment buildings are especially susceptible to this, since the distances between apartments in them are small;
with old clothes. Moths start in things that have not been worn for a long time and have been hanging in the closet. Often this problem occurs in second-hand stores or small stores where sanitary and hygienic standards are violated;
with gifts, guests. This happens very rarely, but the insect or its eggs can be brought along with the donated item;
Adults can come from a grocery store, canteen, cafe, or food warehouse if the establishment is located close to an apartment or house;
from a nearby clothing store;
on the fur of domestic animals, which pests use as shelter;
with books from the library.

Bottom line

Moths are harmful and tenacious insects. If it is not possible to prevent the appearance, then destruction is carried out by a combination of methods. Food products that have been infested with larvae should absolutely not be eaten, since waste products of caterpillars and their remains can cause allergies and poisoning.

Moth24 best remedies for moths in the apartment and house: we destroy and carry out prevention

Apartment and houseRat in the toilet: a terrible reality or an invented threat

Life activity and reproduction of the clothing moth

There are many types of moths, but no more than a dozen live in a person’s home:

woolen - feeds on wool, fur coats, hats, scarves, and sometimes filling for pillows and blankets;
clothes - lives in closets, spoiling all types of fabrics;
furniture - chews through upholstered furniture, upholstery of sofas and armchairs, sometimes feeds on fur;
food moths eat cereals, dried fruits, teas, flour, sugar, nuts;
bookish - loves to chew books, newspapers and magazines;
waxy She does not settle in the house itself, but lives in apiaries - in bee hives.

All types of moths have approximately the same life process:

eggs and larvae cannot develop at temperatures below 20°C and air humidity below 50%;
insects need a large supply of food, which is different for each species;
Moth eggs are practically harmless, but it is impossible to see them without magnifying devices;
Larvae are the most harmful stage of moth development. They hatch from eggs 7 days after laying. To make a cocoon and become a butterfly, the larva needs to store a lot of nutrients, so it is very gluttonous;
in 2 months the insect turns from an egg into an adult;
Only males lead an active lifestyle, while females spend most of their time next to their offspring;
an adult usually reaches 10-20 mm in length, has a faded brownish, reddish or grayish color;
During her short life (4-7 days), the female is capable of laying about 150 eggs. Laying occurs within 7 hours after mating;
moths cannot tolerate light, so they are nocturnal;
females can lay eggs on any surface, but usually do this in hard-to-reach dark places where there is plenty of food and water;
a flying moth does not have digestive organs or mouthparts. Therefore, adult butterflies do not cause much harm to products and things. They feed only on water and nutrients that they stored as caterpillars;

Moths do not bite because they do not have a mouth, but insects harm human skin in other ways. Allergy sufferers sometimes have a reaction to chitin and arthropodine, which make up the shell of butterflies and the waste products of the larvae. This allergy is rare and manifests itself in the form of skin rashes, chills, weakness, nausea, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Most often, a reaction occurs to wax moths, much less often to clothes and food moths.

The following signs indicate the presence of pests in the house:

flying individuals. If males fly around the apartment, it means that somewhere nearby there are females protecting their offspring and attracting other butterflies with the smell of pheromones;
pinkish or white larvae were observed in containers with food, on cabinet doors, shelves;
holes in things and clothes;
damaged fur;
skins, cocoon husks, cobwebs;
tunnels gnawed into furniture and carpets;
moth nest with larvae. It needs to be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

Preparations and devices for controlling butterflies and larvae

If you need to destroy moths urgently, pay attention to more radical remedies for moths in the apartment. Professional preparations guarantee quick results with minimal problems with their use. Supermarkets offer a wide selection of anti-moth products. You can choose a drug for each case and at an affordable price. (Cost data is as of January 2018).

Aerosol

An effective remedy against moths and larvae in the apartment, which begins to work immediately after spraying, retains its effect for up to six months. The toxic substance enters the pest's respiratory tract and kills it. It works best when insect oviposition is detected and destroys all future offspring at the same time.

"Armol". Used to combat any type of moth. It has the scent of lavender flowers and leaves no residue when sprayed. The price of a cylinder does not exceed 100 rubles. "Raptor". It is used both to destroy clothes moths and to prevent their occurrence. The spray smells of lavender and is suitable for spraying on thin and natural fabrics. Cost - 150 rubles. "Moskitol". Destroys butterflies of any kind, but has no effect on larvae. It has a pleasant smell and does not leave stains on clothes when processed. Costs 200 rubles. "Clean house". Suitable for processing upholstered furniture and wooden surfaces. No additional spraying on clothing is required. Has a light herbal aroma. The price is 150 rubles. "Antimol drKlaus." Destroys larvae and adult butterflies, has a long-term effect. Designed for processing furniture, suitcases, mezzanines. The average price per cylinder is 170 rubles. "Extramit". Used for processing production and warehouse premises. Long-acting aerosol retains its properties for up to six months. The price of the bottle is 70 rubles.

The chemical composition of the aerosol is harmful to health, so cover your breathing organs when spraying, and leave the room for a while after spraying.

Fumigator

A plastic device for repelling moths, mosquitoes and flies, powered by electricity. The full cycle of pest destruction takes several weeks, which is why moth fumigators are less popular than aerosols. In addition, it only kills butterflies, leaving caterpillars and oviposition intact.

The plate or container with the insecticide is placed in a special compartment inside the device, then the fumigator is connected to the network. When the block is heated, active substances begin to be released, a subtle smell destroys the butterflies. The following models are popular.

"DiK-3". There are two types of model, operating with liquids and plates. The active action of the fumigator begins 12 hours after being plugged into the network. The cost of the device without the unit is 50 rubles. Raid. It goes on sale together with the plates. Depending on the modification, you can adjust the intensity and set a timer. The price of the fumigator is from 150 to 400 rubles. Raptor. An improved version of "DiK-3" destroys moths and mosquitoes. The cost of the fumigator is 300 rubles. Plates are sold separately.

The content of toxic substances in the fumigator is minimal. The device can be turned on in the apartment without fear for your health.

Trap

Pheromone bait is safe for human health and pets, since it contains no chemical components. It consists of an adhesive base and pheromones. Males, interested in the exciting aroma, fly to the trap and stick tightly. And since reproduction is impossible without males, the life cycle of the moth gradually stops.

"Raptor". An effective remedy for moths in the closet. The sticky base is impregnated with synthetic resins, rubber and mineral oils. The trap's action begins after the protective coating is removed. She has been active for two months. The cost fluctuates around 150 rubles for two plates. Aeroxon. Used to protect the apartment from any type of moth. It is attached with the back side to the surface of the chest of drawers, near the source of infection. To activate the trap, you need to remove the transparent film. Maintains effect for three months. The average price is 300 rubles. Global. Destroys food moths. The glue bait consists of three parts, divided by perforations. It can be used separately, hanging in several places, or folded into a “house”, placing it in a chest of drawers. The trap is valid for two months. The average cost is about 200 rubles.

Too many traps in one room can cause the opposite reaction: the males will not smell due to the excess amount of pheromones.

Cases

Allows you to preserve outerwear in the off-season. The mechanical method prevents moths from breaking through dense material. Use breathable covers to prevent clothes from smelling musty later. Wash and iron items before storing them. For prevention, you can hang a moth section in the case. This is an option for those who want to use odorless protective products.

Pills

An alternative to scented aerosols. Anti-moth tablets will protect clothes and drive voracious individuals away. The product does not affect oviposition and larvae. But the affordable price (a pack of 12 pieces can be bought for just 10 rubles) and ease of use make the tablets popular in their segment.

For the best effect, place several tablets in a gauze bag and place them in the corners of your wardrobe. Update your protection every two weeks. The most popular among the population are the anti-moth tablets “Cinderella”, “Dezmol”, “Lavender”, “Crash Moth”.

Sections

This is a plastic container with a hook that is filled with a special gel. The sections operate on the principle of aromatic herbs. The plates permeate the entire cabinet with an unpleasant smell for moths, creating unbearable conditions for reproduction.

The sections are harmless to people and pets. But there is a significant drawback - they do not destroy the larvae. The price for one piece ranges from 80-150 rubles. The best reviews about moth repellents were collected in the “Raid”, “Raptor”, “Taiga”, “Antimol” and Mosquitall sections.

If you see a pest in your apartment, promptly use the selected moth repellent at home. The sooner you start the fight, the greater your chances of winning without losses. It works best to use several methods in combination. Also don't forget about prevention.

Video on the topic

How to get rid of moths using folk remedies

Prevention measures

It is impossible to completely protect an apartment from moth invasion. However, there are several rules that, if followed, can reduce the risk of “uninvited guests”:

carrying out regular wet cleaning;
careful inspection of all purchased items and products for the presence of larvae or adults;
compliance with food storage rules;
prevention of pests using fragrant herbs or essential oils;
storing fur coats in paper covers, woolen items in plastic bags;
timely use of products;
getting rid of unnecessary things that have been lying in the closet for many years.