June 25th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Are You More at Risk from a Moth Infestation?

Moth infestations are on the rise across the country. According to pest control companies, callouts for moth infestations are up 60% in the last 4 years, with the numbers rising all the time. So why is this happening, and are you – and your clothes – at risk? Well, it’s no accident, and there are a number of common factors that affect how likely you are to suffer a plague of moths chewing through your clothes. Read on to find out if you’re at risk and what you can do to protect yourself from a moth infestation.

What Are Your Clothes Made Of?

Moth larvae, not adult moths, are the things that eat your clothes Moths aren’t known as picky eaters, but that perception is only half-true. Moths won’t go after just any old clothes – they only like the expensive stuff! This is because moths only eat clothes with natural fibres in them, like wool or silk. These natural fibres just so happen to make more expensive clothes! Most people have at least a few items of clothing that feature natural materials, so it’s important to protect your clothes if you’re among that number. Of course, it’s not just clothes that contain wool, silk, or other natural fibres, so it’s wise to protect anything in your house that might be at risk with some moth-killing spray.

What Temperature Do You Wash Your Clothes At?

Washing your clothes on a low heat is normally a good idea – it’ll reduce your energy bills and help out the planet. However, the fact that more people are washing their clothes at a cooler temperature is helping the spread of moths! Moth eggs and larva that might be lurking in your clothes won’t be killed by a colder wash. They’ll only be disposed of at temperatures of 55°C or more, so if you’ve seen a lot of moths around your wardrobe recently, it might be a good idea to spin your clothes on a hot wash for once.

Where Do You Live?

Moths are becoming more common everywhere, especially the south of England Moths are common across the whole country, but they’re especially common in London and around the south east of England. However, the type of home you live in affects how likely you are to attract a moth infestation as well. If you’re in an older house, there’s likely to be more gaps in the property where old fireplaces, attics, and pathways exist, even if they’ve been filled in over the years. Newer builds have less of these quirks, so there are fewer places for the moths to hide. Also, if you’re in a flat or an apartment, you’re more at risk of a moth infestation. This is because they have shared walls, so it’s easier for the moths to get at your soft fabric, lay eggs, and retreat into a dark gap between the walls.

Moths Are Evolving and Adapting

The peppered moth, in both black and natural forms A final reason for moth infestations becoming so common is that they’re simply very resilient and adaptive creatures. Moth lifespans are short, which means they evolve many times faster than other creatures. The peppered moth is an example of this, as it completely changed its colours from speckled black and white to black and then back again in the space of around 150 years! The peppered moth started out with a speckled black and white pattern, which helped it blend into trees. However, around the time of the industrial revolution, the increase of air pollution, soot, and coal dust meant the peppered moth evolved to be all black in under 50 years. In the mid-20^th century, environmental controls cut pollution, and the speckled peppered moth became much more common once again. This kind of adaptivity shows that moths will always be around as they can quickly adapt when their environment changes. They’re known to make use of birds’ nests to survive while they look for an indoor shelter to lay their eggs, and while you might not think it, they’re excellent at navigation, so they can enter your home through the tiniest cracks. Stay vigilant, and make sure clothes, carpets, curtains, or anything made of natural fibres is protected with moth-killing spray. If you’re unfortunate enough to be suffering a moth infestation, take a look at our range of effective moth-killing solutions, from smoke bombs to sprays.