Why Clothing Moths Appear In Closets

But the question arises, Why do moths eat clothes? Tiny and innocent-looking crawling clothing moths, a species of fungus moth, require Keratin food minerals in order to grow to adult that is usually found in animal-based fabrics like wool, cashmere, feathers, silk, or fur mainly.

We get to learn the reasons behind why clothing moths appear in closets? But, let's understand clothing moths from the start. 

Table Of Context

• What are clothing moths, and how do they look?
• What are the different types of Clothes Moths?
• How Clothing Moths Are Different From Food-infesting Moths?
• What are the favorite Attacking Areas Of Clothing Moths?
• Where Do Clothing Moths Like To Live?
• Why Are Your Clothes Is Food For Moths? 

What are clothing moths, and how do they look?

Clothes moths are one of the types of bugs invaders that may harm textiles materials and wearables like our sweaters, cotton fabric, and other dresses apparels. These moths are small in size of 1/2-inch in beige-colored. They have narrow wings that are fringed with short hair. 

What are the different types of Clothes Moths?

Clothing moths are so minuscule that you can not see them with the human eye, and you will be uninformed with the pest infestation until you see some holes in your clothes. They are usually found sticking and biting your clothes, bedsheets, under floor coverings like drawing room and living room carpets. The moment you displace the cloth sheeting, you can see little invaders crawling around corners and where there is a downslide that is inaccessible.

Typically, two types of moths can enter your closets and damage attires and bedsheets.

• Webbing Clothes Moth: Also known as Tineola bisselliella, It is less than an inch in size has a uniform color.
• Casemaking Clothes Moth: Also known as Tinea pellionella, It has dark spots on its wings. 

How Clothing Moths Are Different From Food-infesting Moths?

Clothes-eating moths are not the same as food-infesting moths that you might find flying around your pantry or kitchen. Clothing moths can be in your home, and you will not notice them causing severe damage to textile materials.

Other than that, the food moths are hairless, but clothing moths have little hair tufts. Food moths may grow to be double the size of clothing moths, and you can tell the difference by looking at their heads under a microscope. 

What are the favorite Attacking Areas Of Clothing Moths?

The only sources of nutritional supplements for clothing moths are animal fibers like

• Wool 
• Fur
• Silk 
• Feathers
• Felt 
• Leather

Cotton and synthetic textiles such as polyester and rayon rarely get damaged when not mixed with wool or heavily stained with food stains or body oils. These textiles materials contain a fibrous protein that the clothing moth's worm-like larvae can consume to pupate into an adult. 

Where Do Clothing Moths Like To Live?

Clothing moths like to reside in dark, non-human places of the house, such as closets, basements, and attics. Grain moths from cereals, dried fruit, nuts, and other stored goods might be the source of similar-looking moths observed in kitchens and other well-lit locations.

Fungi thrive in damp environments, and clothing moths thrive in dirty textiles that retain moisture and may harbor fungal development.

Why Are Your Clothes Is Food For Moths? 

Clothes moths are members of the Tineidae family, or "fungus moths," which feed as caterpillars on mushrooms, lichens, and detritus (dead organic matter).

Feathers and hairs include keratin, a fibrous protein found in nesting materials. The larvae would eat such items in the environment, but they may get the same protein in many different sorts of clothing in your house.

Many clothes moths are found natively in Europe and Asia, but they have traveled to all continents via human clothing, including Australia. With roughly 190 identified species, Australia has a large diversity of this ancient family of moths. However, scientists have yet to uncover and characterize many more.