Textile insect · Tineola bisselliella
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.
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.
Questions fréquentes
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 can destroy an entire wardrobe in a few weeks.
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.
Problème de clothes moths ?
Intervention sous 24h — résultat garanti.