Fabric Pests
Webbing Clothes Moth
Adult webbing clothes moths are up to 12mm in length, silvery brown with reddish hairs on their heads. Females lay eggs in the threads of fabrics usually rugs, towels, linens and sometimes taxidermy mounts or lint debris. Eggs hatch in a few days during summer months but in winter can take 1 month. Adults can be found crawling along fabric surfaces where the larva spins silken feeding tunnels that look patchy and are very well hidden in the infested fabric.
Case-Making Clothes Moths
The larva of the case making clothes moth also spins a silken case around itself and does not emerge from its case. It carries it along as it feeds, leaving damage all throughout the fabric. The adults measure up to 12mm and have 3-4 dark spots on forewings. The adult emerges in 2-3 weeks and lives for 2-5 weeks after that.
Carpet Beetles
4 most common: Varied Carpet Beetle, Common Carpet Beetle, Black Carpet Beetle, Furniture Carpet Beetle
The larvae of these carpet beetles cause serious damage to materials in fabrics such as wool, fur, hair and cotton. They also can infest some foods such as dry cat/dog food and cereals. The larvae do all the damage as soon as they hatch, being less then 5mm long they are similar to small caterpillars covered in long hair. Larvae leave cast skins while moulting which may cause allergic reactions on skin. Egg-adult can take 75-360 days, depending on the species and temperatures. Adults life span is up to 60 days.