Types of moths in the apartment: photo of an insect

1. home
2. Pest control
3. Removing clothes moths in an apartment
4. Types of moths

A moth is an insect that absorbs the substance of the stratum corneum - keratin. Such organisms are also called keratophages. But despite this, we often notice these insects crawling in the closet or flying around the house in search of woolen items. Why are they so attracted to wool? The answer is simple: at the molecular level, wool and fur contain the moth's favorite food product - keratin. Thanks to the unique environment of the stomach, which contains a lot of acid, moths easily digest keratin.

What you need to know about moths

The moth can be characterized by the following characteristics: it looks like a small butterfly of brownish-yellow, pale gray or white with a lot of silvery pollen on the wings. This insect goes through the following stages of development: the eggs hatch into larvae, then they become butterflies, and the adults, in turn, lay eggs. Moths themselves are practically harmless. You should be wary of larvae that hatch from eggs laid by butterflies in the fibers of things.

It is important to note that butterflies experience discomfort from sunlight, so they mainly live in dark places that are difficult for sunlight to penetrate - for example, in closets, closets and chests of drawers. The offspring hatched from the eggs, like butterflies, prefer to be in the dark, where it is almost impossible to detect the larvae. It should be noted that in the cozy conditions of city houses, moths are able to lay eggs all year round!

Description and characteristics of the insect

A moth is a small lepidopteran insect. There are more than 2,000 species that are distributed throughout the world. A small part lives in human homes, the rest live in the wild. Insects are active in the evening and at night; during the day they sit out in secluded, darkened places, as they do not tolerate sunlight well.

Appearance

Adults do not eat; the nutrients accumulated at the larval stage are enough for them to survive. But moth caterpillars are voracious. They are the ones who cause the main damage to products, things or plants.

Appearance of a moth

Despite the large number of moth species, they are not very different from each other in appearance. A moth looks like a small moth with narrow wings. Body dimensions from 5 to 1.2 mm, wingspan from 10 to 20 mm. The color is inconspicuous, depends on the habitat, most often fluctuates between shades of gray and brown. The wings of most species have a pearlescent tint. Moth larvae are white, body size 1 – 1.5 mm, head dark.

How long does a moth live?

The lifespan of a moth is largely determined by the species, living conditions, in particular, climate and weather conditions, temperature, humidity, and for the larvae, also the availability of a sufficient amount of food. The average lifespan of a moth is from 1 to 4 weeks. The larvae live longer - from 2 to 8 months.

Where does he live?

The habitat of the moth depends on the type of insect. Most of them live on the plants that they feed on, some settle in houses, apartments, warehouses, barns and sheds, causing damage to fabrics, furs, and products; there are moths that live in bird nests or animal burrows.

Lifespan of a moth

This is a rather important question, considering that insects actively eat clothing and furniture.

Before the onset of puberty, the individual goes through two stages of development: egg and larva. At an air temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the laid egg takes two weeks to develop. The larval development period varies from three to ten months. At this time, the larvae form a cocoon around themselves from the nutrient material, in which they develop further.

After acquiring wings, the individual does not live very long - only 2-4 weeks. This period varies depending on the type of parasite. During these weeks, individuals are not particularly mobile and fly mainly in the dark, since the wings are poorly developed, which makes the insects very vulnerable.

If you add up the three periods of time during which the life of a moth occurs, you get a very impressive period of time during which the parasites do not waste time destroying interior items and wardrobe items.

Life cycle of a moth

The moth lays 50-80 eggs per clutch in a dark place, the size of which is no more than 0.5 mm. During their development, a caterpillar appears. On clothing, females choose places near pockets and on collars; They love old rugs or blankets that have not been used for a long time.

Moth eggs go through a long stage of development to the state of an adult.

The caterpillars begin to feed on what the eggs were laid in (fabric, food, etc.). After emerging from the pupa, females soon begin to mate with males and lay eggs. They do this not far from the place where they appeared. After mating and before laying eggs, 5-6 hours pass, and after another 5-6 days the female dies, because fulfilled its purpose - gave birth to offspring.

If we talk about clothes moths, they produce only 1 generation per year, while, for example, cabbage moths can produce up to 5-6 generations in the spring-autumn period.

What types of moths are there?

The most common types found in the home are:

Fur moth

The fur moth is an individual that has shiny dark yellow wings, with dark specks on the wings. The lower layer of the wings differs in color from the outer ones: they are light gray. The wingspan ranges from fourteen to fifteen millimeters. The fur moth prefers to feed on clothing made from natural materials. The hatching larvae look like worms, have white, almost transparent skin, through which the contents of their stomach can be seen, and eight very short abdominal legs. The larvae prefer to consume fur products.

Clothes moth

The clothes moth is larger in size than the fur moth; its wingspan is up to twenty-two millimeters. She also has two pairs of wings, which are purple at the very base, turning yellow towards the middle, with a small brown spot at the very top. The clothes moth larva is covered with a small white fluff and is similar in appearance to the coat moth larva. But, unlike their relatives, clothes moth larvae prefer to huddle in folds or inside woolen material, eating fairly large spaces of material that are invisible from the outside at first glance. The larvae are kept on clothing by a stationary cover.

Furniture moth

Furniture moth - a representative of this species has shiny silver-yellow wings, the head is dark yellow, and the base of the wings has a brown tint. This variety of keratophages has a significant difference from all other species and thanks to this it was declared a separate genus. This difference is the absence of oral tentacles. Furniture moth larvae destroy furniture in a unique way: first, the hair padding in the soft parts is eaten, then, closer to the pupation period, the larvae appear on the surface of the upholstery and begin to gnaw tunnels in the furniture cover. Pupation occurs on the lower surface of chairs, armchairs, sofas, and beds. In such places, a huge number of light cocoons accumulate. The period of development of larvae depends on the time of year: in winter it is five months, in summer – about two months. Pupation, as a rule, occurs towards the end of winter, that is, in February.

Major household and agricultural pests

To protect food, fur and wool products, it is necessary to take a closer look at the appearance and general characteristics of household pests. Knowing their distinctive features, behavioral characteristics and life cycle duration, it is easier to fight and identify areas of concentration. It must be taken into account that almost all varieties of house moths reproduce rapidly. One female lays more than 50 eggs (some varieties - about 150). And almost all of the offspring survive and spread throughout the room.

Wax moth

Almost all beekeepers have encountered wax moths and their larvae at least once. After all, these insects reproduce in hives, penetrating there through holes and cracks. Since wax insects emit a honey aroma, bees easily let them in. The larvae of these pests use honey and wax, insulation and beebread as food. Bees infected with worms quickly leave the hive.

To cope with these pests, it is necessary to treat the honeycombs and the inside of the hive with special compounds. The use of folk remedies is allowed, among which are aromatic herbs and oils. You can expel insects using solutions of vinegar or ammonia.

Although the larvae cause significant harm, some beekeepers do not destroy them, but use them to prepare extracts and medicinal ointments. Such compositions are used to treat a variety of diseases. Responses to tinctures and gels differ.

Clothes moth

Clothes moths have a grayish-yellowish tint. They are absorbed by lint and natural fabrics. The presence of small worms is quite difficult to notice, since the outer layer of the clothing remains intact. To form a cocoon, the larva eats clothing and accumulates dust particles. Adult insects and their young do not tolerate sunlight well, so they hide in formed folds or darkened places. Therefore, this species is called the fur moth or clothing moth.

To eliminate this type of domestic moth, you can use a variety of means and methods:

• Sprays and aerosols that are suitable for treating clothing items. When preparing them, components are used that can be used to destroy adult individuals and worms. The effectiveness of aerosol products does not decrease over a long period of time.
• Processing natural upholstery and clothing items at sub-zero temperatures. To destroy the moth nest, the products are taken outside in the winter. Dead worms should be chickened out. Excessively high temperatures have a similar effect.
• To reduce the lifespan of pests, some items of clothing are washed. It is important to take into account the permissible temperature for things.
• Placing the fumigator in a wardrobe or wardrobe. Fumigators are filled with insecticidal components that repel and destroy pests.
• To ensure that moths leave the room, you can also use aromatic herbs. But the smell that lavender, geranium or wormwood exudes only repels insects. It is impossible to destroy eggs with their help.

Indoor furniture moth

It is not difficult to detect the presence of furniture moths, since these pests form peculiar tunnels in the upholstery. Insects feed on substances and materials that contain keratin. The length of an adult insect is from 4 to 6 mm. There are small spots on the wings. One pest lays more than 250–270 eggs at a time. However, most of the larvae survive if the indoor conditions are suitable. To get rid of furniture moths in an apartment, you should use folk remedies and chemicals, which are presented in a wide range.

Potato moth

Potato moths are considered the most dangerous pests, since in a short period of time they destroy almost the entire crop of a summer resident. It is not difficult to identify the presence of larvae, since they are distinguished by a yellowish, green or gray tint. The length of the body is about 1.2-1.5 mm.

Potato pests prefer plants that belong to the nightshade family:

• Nightshade.
• Potato.
• Tomatoes.
• Eggplant.

The potato moth does not bite, but quickly destroys the crop in the garden and in storage. The larvae consume the pulp, leaving the outer layer intact. Insects use excrement to fill the formed tunnels. Those vegetables that have worms inside quickly die.

Chemicals and insecticides are used to kill potato pests. Folk remedies are used infrequently, since with their help it is impossible to eliminate insects that have bitten leaves and crops.

Cabbage moth

The cabbage moth consumes all types of cruciferous plants. This insect is distinguished by its elongated body and brownish-yellow hue. The edges of the wings are covered with a kind of fringe. This pest does not move long distances, so it lays eggs near the place where it feeds. A huge number of larvae can accumulate on one leaf and actively destroy vegetation. It is not difficult to determine the presence of eggs, since they are small in size and oval in shape. Due to the fact that the eggs are colored greenish, summer residents and gardeners do not immediately notice the offspring of the cabbage pest.

food moth

Food species of moths are found everywhere. These insects are distinguished by their original color and peculiar pattern. You can find larvae and adults in containers and containers with a variety of food products. Worms consume:

• Grains.
• Dried fruits.
• Cereals.
• Nuts.
• Flour products.

Although food species have wings, they practically do not use them. Pests move from one apartment to another in containers with food and cereals. The rapid spread of parasites is provoked by excess humidity. Insects breed near potential food sources. Therefore, the offspring develops quite quickly. Up close, it looks like there are lumps inside the cereal containers.

Insect control should begin as soon as their presence is detected. After all, one female lays more than 100 eggs at a time. To quickly deal with pests, you need to do the following:

1. All supplies and products located in the kitchen must be checked. It is necessary to inspect even those containers and packages that are tightly closed. After all, buyers often purchase infected dried fruits or cereals. If larvae or eggs are found among food supplies, the infected products are thrown away. If several worms or one nest are detected, then the cereals are processed at high temperature. For these purposes, a microwave, oven or electric stove is used.
2. The main elements of the kitchen set, household appliances and cabinets are treated with specially manufactured insecticidal compounds. It is allowed to use solutions with vinegar or ammonia. Since these compositions include substances harmful to the body, all items should be washed after treatment. This is the only way to prevent insecticides from entering the human body.
3. It is not only worms and eggs that need to be destroyed. If adult insects are not expelled, the likelihood of re-infection increases. For elimination, it is better to use tapes and structures with adhesive walls.

Chestnut moth

This type of pest destroys young leaves of chestnut, grape and maple. Previously, the chestnut pest was found only in some areas of our country. Now the insects have spread throughout the country. The damage is caused not by adult pests, but by caterpillars. It is problematic to detect the presence of larvae on the front part of the leaf, since they have a light green tint. Insects attack chestnut trees in May. At the same time, the chestnut moth lays eggs and covers them with a peculiar secretion. It is at this time that parasites should be destroyed before they actively spread.

To minimize the damage caused by moths, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive measures. Insecticidal preparations, chemical compounds and special solutions are suitable for treatment. They can be purchased at hardware stores or online stores.

Agricultural pests

It is better to study the enemy thoroughly so as not to get confused if you suddenly have to meet him not only in the apartment, but also in the garden! It is quite common for entire colonies to attack agricultural crops, poisoning the lives of gardeners. Let's look at several main types of moths:

grain moth

The grain moth is a species of keratophagous silvery-white with a small bright brown pattern on the fore wings. They can also be recognized by their gray belly and wings, the span of which reaches up to fifteen millimeters. Pupation occurs primarily in spring and summer. Grain moths can most often be found in barns, warehouses, granaries and other places where grain crops are stored. An individual grain moth lays up to a hundred eggs directly on grains: one or two eggs are glued to each grain. The female combines several grains into a kind of lump with the help of a sticky liquid secreted, similar to a web, and eats them while inside this lump of web. To move, she has to drag the entire bundle behind her. This type of moth prefers to pupate in cracks in the floor and walls. In addition to grains, moths also eat dried fruits and various seeds.

Rye moth

Rye moth - this species has a wingspan of up to thirteen millimeters. The hind wings are dark yellow, with a brownish edging. The most common rye moth is found in central Russia. Individuals prefer to lay eggs towards the end of summer on wild cereals and on emerging winter crops. The larva eats the core of the stem and spends the whole winter in it. Pupation of rye moth larvae occurs closer to mid-summer.

Reasons for appearance

Before you find food or clothes moths in your apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with the main reasons for its appearance. To infect a living space, only one fertilized individual is required. The gray butterfly chooses those houses and apartments that have suitable conditions. The main sources of moths in an apartment:

• Penetration through holes in building materials and doorways.
• Penetration through windows that are not covered with a mosquito net.
• Purchasing items of clothing or food that have been infested with maggots.
• Penetration through ventilation openings and air ducts.

To exclude such an outcome, it is necessary to review the purchased cereals, clothes and other items. Having established where the pest is moving from, it is easier to deal with them.

Potato moth

This representative of parasites does not have the most attractive appearance: the wings are dirty gray in color and dotted with dark spots.

But in the larval stage, the individual is more pleasant to look at and has a light green (sometimes pinkish) color.

Having fledged, the individual acquires long mustaches and a body length of up to seven millimeters with folded wings. Life in this stage lasts only a few days.

The unprepossessing appearance appeared for a reason: it helps the pest remain unnoticed, even if you look at it, as they say, “point-blank.”

Females lay eggs on the surface of leaves on the underside. The larvae that hatch after some time develop very quickly.

As the name suggests, potato plants suffer from parasites. Individuals can remain alive until the temperature drops to 4 degrees. But individual individuals can climb into the tubers themselves and continue to exist there. Potato moths wait out serious cold weather, as a rule, in barns, which have enough seed potatoes for food. With the same potatoes, parasites re-enter the soil in the spring.

Features of reproduction

A moth goes through the following stages during its life:

1. The butterfly lays eggs, from which larvae appear, which pupate, and from them butterflies emerge. Larvae that appear from eggs laid by a butterfly in the fibers of fabric or fur are dangerous for things. It is important to know that in a city apartment the insect is able to lay eggs all year round.
2. The egg develops for two weeks at a temperature of +20 degrees, the development period of the larva is from three to ten months, during which time it forms a cocoon around itself from the material in which the larva started.
3. After emerging from the cocoon, the butterfly lives for 2-4 weeks; it flies mainly at night, but poorly, since its wings are poorly developed. Throughout her entire life, she lays eggs.

Cabbage moth

This parasite causes damage to cruciferous crops. Externally it differs from other types of moths: the body is oblong in shape and light green in color, covered with small hairs. You can easily confuse an insect with a straw if it folds its wings. The wings themselves are framed with fringe at the edges. The larvae have characteristic brown heads.

In terms of activity, cabbage pests are no different from the rest: they are inactive, fly poorly, and rarely move very far from the place where the cocoon is left. Parasites lead a solitary lifestyle and rarely gather in groups. On a leaf you can see one, maximum two individuals.

It is easy to detect and identify the eggs of the parasite: they are elongated and very small. The egg is up to 0.5 millimeters long and only 0.2 millimeters wide. The green color perfectly camouflages them on the foliage.

Who is a moth

Although almost all people know about the existence of this insect and moth larvae, few are aware of the distinctive characteristics. To cope with these pests, it is necessary to study their characteristics. So, the insect belongs to the order Lepidoptera. They are distinguished by their small size and the presence of small wings. In our area there are individuals of grayish, white and brown shades. Insects get out of secluded places in the evening or at night so as not to interfere with people. The main danger is the offspring, so housewives need to know what a moth larva looks like and where it hides.

food moth

It parasitizes inside products whose storage conditions have been violated. These are mainly stocks of cereals and groceries in barns. Parasites also find food for themselves in the wild: nuts and crop fruits become prey. For this reason, food pests can often be seen in steppe and forest-steppe areas.

It is curious that this type of moth is not able to cause harm to furniture and clothing, since it can only consume cereals, flour, sugar, dried fruits and berries. Appearance: body length with folded wings is eight millimeters. The discreet color makes the parasite almost invisible.

The caterpillars have a pinkish or light yellow color and a smooth body. Ideal conditions for development are: temperature up to +25 degrees, humidity up to 50%. All life stages of an individual take no more than six weeks.

Prevention measures

There are a number of necessary requirements that will help keep your belongings and products safe and sound.

1. When purchasing groceries, pay attention to the condition of cereals, flour, dried fruits, and herbs.
2. Keep food in the house in closed jars or bags soaked in salt water.
3. It is recommended to ventilate kitchen cabinets frequently, wipe the shelves with vinegar, and place lavender or orange peels on them.
4. Observe the shelf life of products, especially nuts and dried fruits, as moths often infest them.
5. Woolen and fur items should be kept clean, and any deterrents should be placed in the closet.
6. When purchasing, carefully inspect for damage or moth larvae. It is important to regularly ventilate and inspect things.
7. When preventing agricultural moths, premises are ventilated and treated before storing a new crop.

Chestnut moth

The foliage of maple and horse chestnut suffers from it. After spending the entire winter in the pupal state, adult insects emerge with the first warmth. Reproduction processes soon begin, which end with the appearance of new offspring within a couple of weeks. The young growth immediately clings to fresh foliage. This causes early leaf fall and tree death.

The destructive activity of the parasites can be seen by uneven orange spots on the leaves.

Difficulties in killing moths

The shelves of hardware stores are filled with insect repellents. However, modern pests can extremely quickly adapt to what they are trying to poison them with. This complicates the disinfestation procedure. You have to change medications regularly. And despite all this, final victory rarely comes.

In view of this, it is easier to take care of preventing the appearance of pests. Preventive measures will vary depending on the type of moth. Recommendations on the algorithm of actions in your situation should be obtained from specialists.

How to protect your home

If a moth starts, the damage can be quite serious. After all, cereals in which insects have laid eggs cannot be consumed. To prevent infection of your home, as well as to get rid of insects, you should use folk and chemical remedies.

Folk remedies

Having established where the gray butterfly or larva lives, you need to:

1. Prepare a solution including vinegar or strawberry and laundry soap. This solution is used to clean kitchen cabinets and other surfaces. It also happens that additional processing is carried out.
2. To repel pests, bay leaves, garlic, lavender or citrus peels are used. Since the aroma evaporates over time, replace the peels or bay leaves.
3. You can also scare away insects with the help of cedar branches and pieces of wood.
4. Essential oils and extracts are suitable for protecting wardrobes. They are used for application to cotton pads or pieces of fabric.

Chemicals

Manufacturing companies supply a variety of preparations and devices that help get rid of clothes or food moths. Among the extensive range are:

• Aerosol preparations. They are suitable for treating objects and things infected with larvae and pupae, as well as pest habitats. For protection, Raptor aerosols are used, as well as Clean House.

• Gel sections. Natural repellents and special components are used to fill them. They are suitable for repelling imagoes. They do not affect larvae and pupae.
• Anti-moth tablets. The tablets are harmless to humans, pets and plants. After all, vegetable oil is used for their preparation. But they cannot completely get rid of gray butterflies and larvae, which is why housewives use insecticidal preparations.
• Fumigators. Used when carrying out preventive measures. They are equipped with containers with liquids or special plates. When heated, repellents and active components are released that are poorly tolerated by pests. The parasite does not live in places where fumigators are installed.
• Vegetation. Certain plants are used to protect fur products and window openings. Parasites do not tolerate the aroma of lavender, tansy and geranium.

How quickly a housewife can cope with parasites depends on the correctness of all actions.