Textile insect · Tineola bisselliella · Last updated 14 August 2026
Clothes moths
The clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) attacks natural fibres — wool, cashmere, silk, feathers. It barely flies and goes unnoticed. It's the larvae, not the adult, that cause the damage by gnawing keratin fibres.
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An infested home can lose hundreds of euros' worth of clothing before detecting the problem. Treatment combines pheromone traps for monitoring, contact insecticide in storage areas, and freezing or professional cleaning of the affected items. The eggs resist ordinary insecticides — hence the need for a 6-to-8-week follow-up.
Identify
Signs of infestation
- Irregular holes in woollens, cashmere and silk (never in synthetic fibres)
- Silky tubes or whitish cocoons in the folds of clothing or at the bottom of a drawer
- A small, pale golden moth, 6 to 8 mm, flying low and slowly around the room, especially in the evening
- Damage on the back of collars, at the shoulders and in unworn areas of clothing
Where it's found
The clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) doesn't feed as an adult: only the larva is destructive. It thrives in dark, warm, undisturbed wardrobes, on unwashed clothing. Sweat stains and unwashed marks are the preferred egg-laying sites.
Impact
Associated risks
Irreversible damage
Larvae digest keratin (wool, silk, down, animal fur). The damage is irreversible. A single female lays 50 to 200 eggs: one undetected season of infestation can seriously damage an entire wardrobe.
Fast spread
Adults spread quickly between rooms. A single untreated second-hand garment is enough to infest an entire wardrobe. Larvae can also feed on natural-fibre carpets and tapestries.
Good practice
Prevention
- 01Wash or dry-clean ALL wool, cashmere and silk garments before seasonal storage
- 02Alternative cold treatment: seal items in an airtight bag for 48h in the freezer at -18°C (kills larvae and eggs)
- 03Store seasonal clothing in breathable, sealed garment bags, never in an open cardboard box
- 04Cedar, lavender and pheromone traps: useful for early detection, not a treatment for an active infestation
Frequently asked questions
What you're asking
How do I know if I have clothes moths?
The first signs are irregular holes in wool or cashmere clothing, silky threads in the folds, and brown flakes (larval casings). The adults are small beige moths of 6–8 mm that flee the light. Pheromone traps confirm the infestation.
Are clothes moths dangerous to health?
No, clothes moths don't bite and don't transmit diseases. Their impact is purely material: irreversible damage to wool, cashmere, silk, feathers and furs. An untreated infestation spreads quickly across stored textiles.
Are shop-bought repellents (cedar, lavender) effective?
Not against an established infestation. These products have a marginal preventive effect but eliminate neither larvae nor eggs. Professional treatment is essential as soon as damage is visible, because the larvae hide in seams, folds and dark areas that consumer sprays can't reach.
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