{"id":14559,"date":"2021-06-22T09:30:42","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T09:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prokill.co.uk\/blog?p=14559"},"modified":"2021-06-26T05:52:26","modified_gmt":"2021-06-26T05:52:26","slug":"when-are-moths-active","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prokill.co.uk\/blog\/when-are-moths-active\/","title":{"rendered":"When are moths active?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We might be welcoming the warmer weather but unfortunately, so are <\/span>moths<\/span><\/a>. As we head ever closer to the official start of summer, chances are that you\u2019re going to start seeing a lot more clothes moths around the home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year, around this time, moths start to look for a place to mate. Once successful, females can lay up to 50 eggs in just three weeks. These eggs hatch into larvae which live for a period of 50 days before they pupate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Contrary to popular belief, it\u2019s not the moths that nibble on your favourite clothes \u2013 it\u2019s the larvae. Moths themselves actually pose no threat to your clothes. Larvae on the other hand will happily feed on wool, hair, leather, cotton, linen, silk and synthetic fibres.<\/span><\/p>\n

With each female moth capable of laying up to 50 eggs which will remain larvae for 50 days \u2013 you can understand how significant damage can occur in a short space of time. Sadly, this is often the case as well because moths tend to hide away in dark, undisturbed areas which means that drawer you never open is a prime target.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From here, the larvae pupate. This means they wrap themselves in a silken case sealed with excrement and fibre. Don\u2019t be fooled into thinking your clothes are safe while they\u2019re pupating however. During this stage, the larvae drag themselves along, eating as they go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following this stage, the larvae become moths who will mate and carry on the cycle repeatedly. The time from an egg being laid until larvae become moths typically lasts between 65 and 90 days. Female adult moths then live for about 30 days and in this time can lay up to 300 eggs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moths are active from May until October so the one benefit of winter drawing closer is that you no longer have to worry about <\/span>moth infestations<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do larvae eat clothes?<\/b><\/p>\n

Considering most pests are lured in by the temptation of human or pet food, clothes seem an odd choice. The fibres found in our clothing do however prove very useful to larvae.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hair and wool contain a protein called keratin which larvae can convert into useful nutrients. What\u2019s more, they don\u2019t drink water so are drawn to damp items of clothing or those which have sweat or liquid spills on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because larvae leave their silken cases and faecal pallets behind, this in turn provides a new food source for the next batch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to prevent a moth infestation<\/b><\/p>\n