Black moth in the apartment: description of the insect

What does a black moth look like (photo)

Description of black moth

Name: Black moth
Class: Insects - Insecta Order: Lepidoptera - Lepidoptera Family: True moths - Tineidae

Black moth.

The parasite causes great harm to household products. Males do not pose a threat; they only fly, but do not destroy food supplies.

Silver-colored eggs are laid by females. The wingspan of the parasite ranges from 7 to 30 mm. The body of a flying insect is covered with small scales.

Food moths find refuge in a dark, warm place where there is no air at all. The destructive effect of the larvae is the destruction of food products, for example, cereals or dried fruits. The worm is 1 cm long; its black head is clearly visible on the body.

The life cycle of a parasite consists of several periods:

• laying eggs;
• formation of larvae;
• formation of pupae;
• emergence of black butterflies.

The pest dies when exposed to sunlight within 60 minutes.

The anatomical structure of the parasite is represented by such organs as:

• compound eye;
• palps;
• head;

• proboscis;
• hip;
• shin;

• paws;
• abdomen;
• hind wings;

• fringe;
• tail.

How to defeat the enemy

Despite the wide variety of means and preparations, the fight against insects can be long and protracted. After all, an integrated approach and sequence of actions play a big role. And some people limit themselves to the usual use of aerosol or sections against moths.

1. You immediately need to conduct an audit in the kitchen. Black moths do not eat clothes, so they may accidentally end up in lockers if the room is heavily infested.
2. Most likely, you will have to throw away all the cereals. I don’t really want to eat caterpillars, even dead ones. You can put the cereal in the freezer for several hours or in the oven. The eggs and larvae will die, but will not disappear.
3. The areas where supplies were stored need to be cleaned. Most likely these are lockers. An old proven method is to wash with water and vinegar. You can also add a few drops of lavender or tangerine essential oil. Black moths cannot tolerate these odors. This is done in order to create unpleasant conditions for reproduction. Even if the larva survives, it will turn into a butterfly and be forced to leave the room.
4. Then 2 ways to solve the problem. Go straight to prevention. Or etch with an aerosol. Such products kill moths and caterpillars. However, they do not work on eggs. Raid, Raptor, Armol, Antimol sprays are widely used. The drugs can be bought at any store. Even at the grocery store.
5. After this they move on to defense. You can use sections, tablets, traps, or use folk recipes.

How to identify

Black moth butterfly.

The insect belongs to the family of butterflies from the department of small Lepidoptera, and is intensely colored black. Pest larvae penetrate cereal stocks.

The lifespan of the pest is 21 days. The parasite destroys solid food products and damages paper or polyethylene.

A food moth flying around the kitchen is looking for a partner for mating, which takes place over the course of 2 days. A pregnant individual cannot fly. The pest lays eggs 4 days after mating near food products.

Eggs mature quickly if they are kept in a warm, damp room. Worms die when the grain is heated when the temperature exceeds +50°C, or in the cold at -10°C.

Caterpillars pose a danger to human health because they infect food products.

Larvae destroy:

• dried mushrooms;
• oatmeal;

• nuts;
• seasonings

Worms have a well-developed mouthparts that allow them to crack hard nuts.

Large black moth

The apartment serves as a habitat for small insects. The large moth lives in places where bees are bred and honey is collected. The adult parasite has a length of 18 to 38 mm.

Caterpillars settle in hives and feed on wax. Adults do not eat food. They have defects in the oral cavity and digestive organs.

The duration of the female's life cycle is 12 days, males last longer - 26 days. The larva is difficult to detect, because the size of the individual is 1.5 cm.

Black and white moth

The insect is a pest of grain crops. The length of the parasite is 9 mm. Females are active in the spring months. The female lives for 2 weeks, laying 15 pieces. eggs on the surface of the seeds.

The clutch is formed within 28 days; the maturation period of the eggs depends on the ambient temperature. The caterpillars of the black-and-white pest destroy grains of rye, corn, and wheat, leaving only the outer thin shell.

Black moth in cereals.

Where does it come from in the apartment?

Black moths often appear in an apartment by accident. Enters through an open window and then finds a secluded place for himself. People often bring it along with store-bought cereal.

There may be no worms at the time of purchase, but after some time moths will begin to flutter around the kitchen. If you examine these cereal packages, they are filled with caterpillars and moths.

Often cereals become infected in the warehouse due to the fault of workshop workers. When a person brings such grains home, ideal conditions are created for moths. Sometimes infection also occurs from unscrupulous neighbors. Pests enter through vents, drains, or other pathways.

Where do black moths come from in the house?

Moths enter the house with contaminated food.

The insect appears in a living room when infected cereals are brought into the house. It is necessary to carefully inspect flour or cereal before purchasing.

The presence of small lumps indicates that the cereal is unsuitable for consumption. Adult pests can live in the grain.

Often the parasite enters the house through an open window. The insect can enter the living space through ventilation openings.

To protect the apartment from pest penetration, it is necessary to install special bars to cover the entrance leading to the adjacent room. Black moths in an apartment destroy all food supplies within 60 days.

What are the best anti-moth products?

ChemicalFolk

Description of black moth

Although black moths do not harm humans, control of these insects must be started immediately after they are discovered. It is not difficult to notice the presence of pests. After all, males actively explore the premises and fly around the house. At this time, females reproduce and look for a secluded place for their offspring. Black moth eggs are silver in color. Caterpillars that spoil food and eat it pose a danger to humans. Caterpillars prefer:

• Dried fruits.
• Dried mushrooms.
• Oat flakes and cereals.
• Nuts.
• Some types of seasonings.

Insect larvae reach cereals even if they are placed in plastic containers or thick bags. Due to their powerful mouthparts, they reach nuts or mushrooms. Since caterpillars and females live in dark places, they are difficult to find. Only attentive housewives can notice the presence of black moths in an apartment.

Methods to combat black moths

They use various methods to destroy the parasite and disinfect the living space. There are 2 types of moth control:

• use of chemicals;
• using home remedies.

  

  Pheromone trap.

Toxic agents get rid of the parasite within a few days, but traditional methods are safe and do not harm human health. Sachets or plates are left in the kitchen cabinet to protect cereal supplies from the harmful effects of moths.

Aerosol preparations are necessary for treating the interior surface of furniture. When used correctly, chemicals do not harm the health of the owner. After finishing work, it is necessary to ventilate the room.

Folk remedies

Home methods of insect control have the following advantages:

• effective;
• safe for human health;
• have a low price;
• available for use.

Chemicals

To get rid of food moths, use fumigators DIC - 3 or DIC - 6. A special device is plugged into an outlet, the pest dies as a result of poisoning with a toxic gaseous substance.

Aerosols are used to kill moths. The toxic substance affects adult parasites and their larvae. Disinfection is carried out indoors, removing pets from the room.

To kill moths, chemicals as:

• Armol;
• Raptor;
• DR CLAUS.

The drugs are highly effective, do not have a strong odor, and are available to the buyer. The owner uses aerosols for pest control: ARBUS and Taiga. Often, Delicia Mottenschutz bait is used to kill moths, which is an economical and effective preparation.

Pay attention to 20 effective ways to protect your home from moths.

Preventive actions

To prevent the appearance of the parasite in the apartment, the following measures are taken:

1. Furniture that contained damaged products is processed.
2. Chemicals are used. Then thoroughly wash the cabinets with solutions of baking soda or 0.9% table vinegar. The insect cannot stand their smell and flies out of the room.
3. In the closet you need to put branches of lavender, wormwood, garlic cloves, or damp cotton pads, after soaking them with essential oils.
4. The ventilation holes are covered with grilles with small holes.

Traditional methods

Among the folk methods, herbs and various oils are most applicable:

• Based on the fact that black moths are afraid of strong odors, it is good to use essential oils. Among them, lavender oil is the most effective. To do this, you need to soak a small swab with it and put it in the closet. It is good to use dry branches of lavender or walnut. They are placed on shelves.
• In order to get rid of black moths, you need to put garlic in jars with flour and cereals. Its smell will keep insects away for a long time.
• You can get rid of black moths using the smell of tobacco, orange and strawberry soap. Bags are made from natural fabric, inside which these substances are placed. You can hang them in the closet or place them on shelves.

Lavender essential oil is especially effective against moths