The term "Fabric Pests" is used to describe those insects which have the ability to feed on keratin, a proteinaceous constituent of wool and other animal hair. There are approximately 30 species of moth larva, 15 species of beetle larva and hundreds of species of biting lice associated with birds known or suspected to be able to digest keratin.
The economically important fabric pests are found in the two main
groups: carpet beetles and clothes moths. In both groups, it is only
the larva which causes the damage.
Although they prefer keratin -
containing substances such as wool, hair and feathers, carpet beetles
and clothes moths will also attack other fabrics such as cotton, silk,
linen and synthetics if the fabrics are contaminated with substances of
nutritional value such as urine, perspiration, beer, milk or fruit
juice. Clean processed wool cannot support the normal life cycle of the
clothes moth unless it is contaminated with certain nutritional
supplements.
Apart from carpet beetles and clothes moths, there
are many other insect species, unable to digest keratin, but still able
to cause damage by chewing through keratin-containing fabric. These
include termites, cockroaches, crickets, silverfish, psocids (book lice)
and some dermestids.
Habits of Both Fabric Pests:
The
larvae of both prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as
closets, attics, and within boxes where woolens and furs are stored for
long periods. Clothing and blankets in constant use are seldom damaged
by these pests nor are carpets that get normal traffic or are routinely
vacuumed. The edges of carpets next to walls or underneath furniture are
often attacked.
These pests may also be found in upholstered
furniture (both inside and out) and in air ducts where the larvae may be
feeding on lint, shed pet hair and other debris. Infestations may also
originate from bird or animal nests, or an animal carcass present in an
attic, chimney or wall space. Adult carpet beetles may fly from one
house to another or eggs or larvae may be transported into a home on
articles containing wool or other animal fibers.
Damage to articles may consist of irregular surface feeding or holes eaten completely through the fabric.
How to Identify the Clothes Moth:
Clothes
moths are small (about ½ inch), buff-colored moths with narrow wings
fringed with hairs. Adult clothes moths are seldom seen because they
avoid light. Adult clothes moths do not feed so they cause no injury to
fabrics. However, the adults produce eggs, which hatch into
fabric-eating larvae. In the larval stage, clothes moths are
creamy-white caterpillars up to ½ inch long.
Webbing clothes moth
larvae spin silken feeding tunnels or patches of webbing as they move
about on the surface of fabrics. They often deposit tiny fecal pellets
similar in color to the fabric.
Casemaking clothes moth larvae
enclose themselves in a portable case that they drag with them wherever
they go. Often they leave the material they developed on and can be seen
crawling slowly over walls or ceilings. This moth may travel a
considerable distance to spin a cocoon in a protected crack or along the
juncture of a wall and ceiling.
How to Identify Carpet Beetles:
There
are many different species of carpet beetles. The adults are small,
oval-shaped beetles about 1/8 inch long. The most common, the black
carpet beetle is shiny black; others are brightly colored in various
patterns of white, brown, yellow and orange.
The larvae are about
1/8 inch to ¼ inch long and densely covered with hairs or bristles. Only
the larval stage feeds on fabric and causes damage. They will also feed
on seeds, pet food, or cereal products. In nature the adults feed on
flowers outdoors. If they are seen indoors, around light fixtures and
windows, there is a larval infestation present somewhere within the
home.
Prevention:
Good cleaning is the best
prevention. Vacuum carpets thoroughly and frequently. Pay close
attention to dark, out-of-the-way places. If you have pets, clean more
often since pet hair is a good source for these pests.1200D Oxford Fabric--https://www.oxfordfabric.net/product/oxford-fabric/1200d.html
The economically important fabric pests are found in the two main
groups: carpet beetles and clothes moths. In both groups, it is only
the larva which causes the damage.
Although they prefer keratin -
containing substances such as wool, hair and feathers, carpet beetles
and clothes moths will also attack other fabrics such as cotton, silk,
linen and synthetics if the fabrics are contaminated with substances of
nutritional value such as urine, perspiration, beer, milk or fruit
juice. Clean processed wool cannot support the normal life cycle of the
clothes moth unless it is contaminated with certain nutritional
supplements.
Apart from carpet beetles and clothes moths, there
are many other insect species, unable to digest keratin, but still able
to cause damage by chewing through keratin-containing fabric. These
include termites, cockroaches, crickets, silverfish, psocids (book lice)
and some dermestids.
Habits of Both Fabric Pests:
The
larvae of both prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as
closets, attics, and within boxes where woolens and furs are stored for
long periods. Clothing and blankets in constant use are seldom damaged
by these pests nor are carpets that get normal traffic or are routinely
vacuumed. The edges of carpets next to walls or underneath furniture are
often attacked.
These pests may also be found in upholstered
furniture (both inside and out) and in air ducts where the larvae may be
feeding on lint, shed pet hair and other debris. Infestations may also
originate from bird or animal nests, or an animal carcass present in an
attic, chimney or wall space. Adult carpet beetles may fly from one
house to another or eggs or larvae may be transported into a home on
articles containing wool or other animal fibers.
Damage to articles may consist of irregular surface feeding or holes eaten completely through the fabric.
How to Identify the Clothes Moth:
Clothes
moths are small (about ½ inch), buff-colored moths with narrow wings
fringed with hairs. Adult clothes moths are seldom seen because they
avoid light. Adult clothes moths do not feed so they cause no injury to
fabrics. However, the adults produce eggs, which hatch into
fabric-eating larvae. In the larval stage, clothes moths are
creamy-white caterpillars up to ½ inch long.
Webbing clothes moth
larvae spin silken feeding tunnels or patches of webbing as they move
about on the surface of fabrics. They often deposit tiny fecal pellets
similar in color to the fabric.
Casemaking clothes moth larvae
enclose themselves in a portable case that they drag with them wherever
they go. Often they leave the material they developed on and can be seen
crawling slowly over walls or ceilings. This moth may travel a
considerable distance to spin a cocoon in a protected crack or along the
juncture of a wall and ceiling.
How to Identify Carpet Beetles:
There
are many different species of carpet beetles. The adults are small,
oval-shaped beetles about 1/8 inch long. The most common, the black
carpet beetle is shiny black; others are brightly colored in various
patterns of white, brown, yellow and orange.
The larvae are about
1/8 inch to ¼ inch long and densely covered with hairs or bristles. Only
the larval stage feeds on fabric and causes damage. They will also feed
on seeds, pet food, or cereal products. In nature the adults feed on
flowers outdoors. If they are seen indoors, around light fixtures and
windows, there is a larval infestation present somewhere within the
home.
Prevention:
Good cleaning is the best
prevention. Vacuum carpets thoroughly and frequently. Pay close
attention to dark, out-of-the-way places. If you have pets, clean more
often since pet hair is a good source for these pests.1200D Oxford Fabric--https://www.oxfordfabric.net/product/oxford-fabric/1200d.html
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