Moth Facts

According to some estimates, over 11,000 species of moths are known to occur in the United States. This figure includes native and introduced species and encompasses various families, genera, and species with diverse ecological niches and habitat preferences.

Moths play a significant ecological role, contributing to pollination, food webs, and nutrient cycling. There are far too many moth species in Missouri to list. However, some of the most common moths you’ll encounter in your home or around your property include:

While not native to Missouri, gypsy moths have been introduced to the state and are considered invasive pests. They have voracious appetites for trees like oak, birch, and poplar, making them a significant pest because they threaten our forests. If these infest your yard, they can hurt your plants and trees.

Pantry moths can create a problem inside your home. Pantry moths are annoying pests that love to hang around the food in your pantry. The biggest problem isn’t just that these flying creatures are pesky – what comes before the flight is concerning. Before turning into a moth, they start as yellow-white larvae that infest any unsealed food in your pantry and consume it. It’s common for homeowners to discover they have an infestation only after taking a bag from the pantry to eat and seeing that something has gotten to it first.

Other moths feed exclusively on fabrics and materials such as fur, wool, silk, feathers, and felt. While none of these moths are dangerous to humans, they cause irreparable damage to your garden, yard, clothes, furniture, and other personal belongings.

Life Cycle of a Moth

Moths have a relatively short life cycle, so they don’t have long to carry on their species. This is one of the reasons one or two moths can lead to severe issues. Once a moth enters your home, they look for a dark place to lay its eggs. They look for items that their larvae can eat once they hatch. We tend to store goods and winter clothing in basements, attics, garages, and other dark rooms. This is attractive to a moth; before you know it, your winter sweaters are full of moth holes.

When the larvae hatch, they begin eating. They devour whatever food they have, eventually form cocoons, and evolve into moths. These moths seek out others to breed with, and the cycle starts all over. This means they can spend their entire life cycle living, eating, producing, and growing inside your home – and destroying it simultaneously.

Signs You Have Moths

The most common sign is holes in clothing, upholstery, and other fabric. You’ll want to check for moth eggs if you find holes. They look like tiny white balls of plastic, and because they are so small, they are easy to miss. Look in the back of your closet because moths prefer dark, quiet areas.

Signs to look for outdoors include moth activity in your yard with patches of dead grass, dying plants, or sick trees. This could be caused by moth larvae making dinner out of your backyard.

How to Get Rid of Moths

You can do several things to deter moths from entering your home. Keep doors and windows closed at night, especially in well-lit areas, as moths fly at night and are attracted to light. If you do keep them open, keep screens on them. Inspect used clothing if you go thrift-shopping, as moth eggs may be carried in this way. Keep the dark corners of your home clean. Finally, clean out drawers and other dark areas regularly.

Integrated Pest Management System

Pest control is essential whether you want to protect your home or business. Utilizing an integrated pest management program ensures we eliminate your current pests and prevent future outbreaks. These methods include:

• Planning – We thoroughly inspect your home or facility, considering any factors contributing to current or future pest issues. Then, we will create a customized treatment program specifically designed for your situation.
• Initial pest control service – Our initial visit will focus on targeting and eliminating any current pest problems you have. We will ensure that any future issues are a matter of pest prevention.
• Regularly scheduled service – At Titan Pest & Wildlife, we provide preventative maintenance programs to ensure your home is and remains completely pest-free.

St. Louis Moth Control

If you’re facing a moth infestation, the above tips might help, but they will not eliminate the problem. Titan Pest & Wildlife specialists are ready to help you remove moths and prevent them from returning. We will inspect your home to determine how the moths got in. This includes your basement, attic, garage, storage rooms, and dark closets to locate their food source.