Would you like a side of flies with that?

When inspecting for common clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella), certain items draw my attention more than most. I tend to drift toward large area rugs, cashmere sweaters, mink coats, wool blankets and pool tables, as these are typical hot spots to find evidence of larval feeding. These items are often what I call “portals to hell,” by which these insidious moths keep emerging until the portal is closed (the source is removed) or protective magic is cast over it to halt the flow of demonic creatures (insecticides are applied to the source).

More than the usual suspects

If you’ve had the (dis)pleasure of conducting many, many clothes moths inspections, you know that sometimes there is no obvious source. Instead of one massive portal to hell, there might be several smaller ones, all contributing to a large or lingering problem. For example, I have picked up many a house mouse carcass and found live clothing moth larvae — as well as their silk, fecal pellets and pupal casings — adhered to the fur.

Anything made from wool, hair or fur is on my inspection radar. This includes every piece of furniture with a drawer, as they might have felt linings, as well as pianos, musical instrument cases, poker tables, the fur lining of boots and the forgotten wool gloves in the pockets of winter coats from seasons ago. More obscure sources include Santa Claus figures with woolen beards, caroler dolls in felt coats, horse-hair boxing gloves, stuffed animals made of mohair, and wigs with human hair.

Synthetic fibers soiled with sweat, body oils or urine also are potential sources, so old hats are items I gravitate toward and inspect in detail, as these usually are stored without being washed. I once discovered two tennis balls that had larval silk on them; at first, I suspected the feeding was on the carpet underneath the tennis balls until I found the fluorescent yellow fecal pellets. I later learned that these retired tennis balls became dog toys, so they were saturated with canine saliva.

Aim for total elimination

During an inspection of a home with an aggravating and persistent moth infestation, I opened a tiny closet and found a few cotton sweaters, a broom, cleaning supplies, and a cardboard donut box with the words “Fly Fishing Reels +” written on the side of it in red permanent marker.

If you’re a fan of fly fishing, or follow me on LinkedIn, you might know where I’m going with this. When I read the box, I realized “fly fishing gear” might be associated with fly fishing lures — artificial flies that often are crafted from real feathers and animal fur.

Sure enough, in that cardboard box were slim plastic cases and even tinier cardboard boxes of flies. The clothes moths had gotten there before me and even made their way into the “sealed” plastic cases. These lesser sources might seem more like an appetizer than a full meal, even for clothes moths, but be sure to inspect for even the smallest of “portals” if you are aiming for complete elimination.