Textile Pests

Carpet Beetle
The Carpet Beetle is 2 to 4mm long, small, mottled brown, grey and cream. The related Fur Beetle is black with one spot on each wing case, and there is an even more uncommon Black Carpet Beetle. The larvae are small (about 4mm long), covered in brown hairs, and likely to roll up when disturbed.

The grubs of these small, oval beetles have replaced the clothes moths as the main textile pest in the UK. Carpet beetle causes damage along the seams of fabric where the grubs bite through the thread leaving well-defined round holes.

Control:
Once the source of the infestation is identified it has to be removed. The larvae can stray, so to eliminate an infestation a thorough examination is essential.

Chemical sprays are used for spot treatment and insecticides to remove infestations. Chemical treatments are only effective in conjunction with proper cleaning.

Common Clothes Moth
All species of clothes moths are distinguished by folding their wings like a tent along their backs. The adult Common Clothes Moth is 6 to 7mm long with pale, plain golden-buff wings edged with hair. The less common Case-Bearing Clothes Moth is duller and has three dark brown spots on each of its wings.

Although the moths are harmless, their larvae cause damage to clothing and other textiles, as they feed on fabrics produced from animals, such as wool and fur.

Control:
The larvae can be difficult to spot, since they turn away from light. However the damage they cause is much more obvious. Once discovered, infested items should be removed and residual insecticides applied to the surrounding area.