Moth is a nondescript gray butterfly, which leads mainly a nocturnal lifestyle. In nature, there are several hundred species of this insect. Some of them prefer to live in a human dwelling, turning into malicious pests. Their favorite foods are furs, wool, and food. To find out how to deal with this insect, you need to know where the moth comes from, what types of this pest populate our houses and apartments, as well as the features of reproduction.
A few words about the insect
Moth belongs to the order Lepidoptera (butterflies), which are characterized by small size and predominantly twilight lifestyle. The moth larvae are capable of causing serious harm. Adults, upon reaching puberty, perform only the function of reproduction (mate and lay eggs).
A distinctive feature of the moth is the absence of a proboscis. With the help of this organ, ordinary butterflies extract nectar, hidden in the inflorescences of plants. Larvae of moths are creatures more primitive and less whimsical to food. They have a well-developed oral apparatus, which even allows them to nibble on plant seeds and fruit bones.
The absence of the proboscis does not interfere with the normal life of the insect. This is explained by the fact that the moth, while still in the caterpillar stage, with the help of the jaws consumes food and accumulates an energy reserve in the body for the future. Growing up, the insect not only loses the ability to eat, but also can not digest food. The main task of an adult is to breed.
Since the moth can cause harm while in the caterpillar stage, it is pointless to fight with adult insects. Before you notice the flying butterflies, their larvae will have time to settle down in a dark secluded place and harm your things and food. And to find them will not be so simple.
How does a mole propagate?
The development of moths, like butterflies, takes place in several stages:
- Egg.
- Larva (caterpillar).
- Dolly.
- Adult butterfly.
The average life span of a butterfly is about 3 weeks. Some species of moths live only a few days. During this short period of time, the female manages to lay from 40 to 200 eggs, of which a white translucent larvae hatch after a week. As soon as the caterpillar is born, it begins to actively feed and form a spindle-shaped cocoon from the surrounding nutrient medium. It is being in the larval stage that the moth causes the main damage. After a month and a half, the larva pupates, after which a butterfly appears from the pupa. The adult individual literally from the first days of life begins to reproduce offspring: it lays eggs in dark secluded places and soon dies.
Thus, under appropriate conditions, the reproduction of moths is an ongoing process. The duration of the development cycle depends on the species of insect, habitat and varies from 1 month to 2.5 years.
Varieties of Moths
As for the species of winged pests, then most often in residential premises you can find clothes and food moths. It is worth noting that both species are similar in appearance, but have different gastronomic preferences, lead a different lifestyle and do not claim to each other's territory. Simply put, if in your home you noticed a clothes moth, then you can not worry about the safety of stocks of cereals.
Clothespin : what eats and where it comes from
Moth in the apartment can spoil fabrics and materials of natural origin - wool, furs, cotton, linen. This kind of moth is called clothes.
Where does this kind of mole come from? Wrecked pests can start regardless of the cleanliness and tidiness of the room. It can be both a miserable dirty apartment, and fashionable apartments. Moreover, in the second case, the chances of uninvited guests appearing are much higher, since owners of expensive apartments can afford to buy fur coats, clothes, furniture and carpets made from natural materials.
The longest-worn items with the smell of sweat and particles of the epidermis cause the greatest appetite for clothes moths. Moreover, in order to get to a favorite treat, the pest will not stop even in front of polyethylene and will gnaw a cellophane bag in two.
How to recognize a clothes moth? This kind of moth looks like a small butterfly up to 8 mm in size. Its wings have a plain golden beige color and fringed edges. Adult individuals of this insect fly poorly and most often they move curiously, and do it quickly enough.
A clothes moth can lay up to 200 eggs. The life span of a caterpillar is usually between 70 and 200 days and depends on the ambient temperature. In cold conditions and in the absence of food, the larva of the moth can live up to 2 years. During the year, only one generation of such a moth is born, which is explained by the nutrition conditions of the caterpillars and the duration of their development.
It is not always possible to find out where the moth comes from in the house. But if after buying a woolen or fur thing you begin to notice flying malicious moths, this means that the insect larvae already lived in the product.
Where does the mole come from yet? In addition to the human factor, the fault of the appearance of the pest in the home can be a pet that only serves as a vehicle when moving from street to house.
Moths entering the home may also be affected by an open window or ventilation system.
Food moth
If the situation is more or less clear regarding the moth, then where does the moth come from in the kitchen? In residential buildings, warehouses, shops and granaries, food moth prefers to settle.
There are several types of such moths, and each of them causes irreparable harm to food products. So, flour moth is planted in cereals and flour, fruit - in dried fruits, spices, mushrooms, herbs and nuts. For an ordinary person, all varieties of food moth look the same - these are small gray butterflies with a dark pattern on the wings. It is by a dark pattern that food moth is determined.
Where this pest comes from is not always possible to find out. But as a rule, infection by moth larvae occurs even when food is stored in food warehouses, where the moth can easily lay eggs. Therefore, do not be surprised where the black moth comes from in the apartment, because you can bring the pest along with the groats purchased in the store. Moreover, such a product will not save sealed factory packaging, since it was already infected at the time of storage in the warehouse. Of course, right after the purchase, the worms may not be in the package, but after a while you will begin to notice butterflies fluttering in the kitchen, and in the package with cereals you will find moths and caterpillars.
Based on the foregoing, it follows that in most cases, the person himself brings the moth into the house.
Ways to deal with clothes moths
Fighting moth larvae is not an easy task, as the pest lays eggs in the most secluded places. It is worth noting that clothes moth is much easier to remove than food.
Methods of combating clothes moth are as follows:
- inspection of things for eggs and larvae;
- drying clothes and hats in the sun or washing at a temperature of 60 degrees;
- spraying special aerosols in insect habitats to destroy larvae;
- placement of means for scaring away the pest (lavender, essential oils, fumigators) among things, on shelves and walls of cabinets.
How to get rid of food moth
To remove food moth, you need to make a lot of effort.
First of all, you will have to throw away all the contaminated food products: cereals, flour, herbs, roots and more.
Against flying moths, special aerosol can be used. Kitchen cabinets must be treated with vinegar or the products intended for these purposes, which are sold in a hardware store.
After getting rid of moths and larvae as a prophylactic on the shelves, you can spread the branches of lavender or other special means that prevent the appearance of the pest.
In addition, in order not to wonder in the future where the moth comes from, cereals brought from the store must be calcined in a microwave or oven. This procedure will help kill the eggs along with the larvae.