What Damage Can Moths Cause in Commercial Premises?

Commercial premises that store clothes, carpets, food and anything organic can be a playground for moths. While moths appear to be simple, flying creatures that flit from one place to another, they can wreak havoc in your office and workshop. Tired of dealing with moths in your office? Looking for the best commercial moth treatments in London? All you need to do is to call us at Mercury Pest Control.

There are different types of moths, and each type can cause immense damage. Here is what you need to know about the innocuous looking moths that can wreak enormous havoc.

Types of Moths and the Damage They Cause :

1.Common Clothes Moths

Common Clothes Moth larvae are so small you won’t notice their presence until the damage is done. They mainly feed within clothing made from organic material such as fur, sheepskin, wool, cashmere, tweed, natural cotton and silk due to the keratin which they thrive upon. Clothes that are also made from these natural fibres are what the Common Clothes Moth are especially attracted too.

If your business is focused on clothing retail or you have a workshop that manufactures clothes, you need to take care. Moth infested clothing can be the last thing you want to show to your potential clients. Having an issue with them can not only be damaging to costs but also to the reputation of your business.

Common Clothes Moths don’t just cause damage to clothing they will also target carpets, furniture, curtains, and rugs as long as there is a sufficient amount of keratin to please them, which can be very costly for any commercial workplace or residential home. The Common Clothes Moth is not just like your average insect; it tends to feed in dark areas meaning that a problem can easily go unnoticed for long periods at a time. The two-main species of the Common Clothes Moth are the;   

Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisseliella) and the Case Bearing Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella). Both of these moths feed off the same fabrics but have different behavioral patterns when doing so. Although the treatment method is the same, it is good to know the difference as many people mistaken the Case Bearing Moth for the Pantry Moth. Here is a brief description on helping you identify the difference.

Case Bearing Moth

• REMOVES casings after hatching making them more difficult to detect;

• Mottled Brown in colour with small black across forewings;

• 1.cm long and females lay around 50 eggs over 7 days;

• Larvae stage can range from 2-3 months- depending on temperature and resources;

• Adults live for around 4-6 days;

Webbing Clothes Moth

• Leaves casing after hatching making detection easier;

• 1.5cm long and are silvery beige in colour;

• Female can lay up to 400 eggs over three weeks;

• Larvae stage can last between 2-30 months- depending on temperature;

Call us at Mercury Pest Control for the most effective commercial moth treatments in London.

2. Indian Meal Moth

An office pantry can play host to the larvae of the meal moth. These larvae can be found in food stuffs such as cereal, grain, flour, biscuits, nuts, pet food and even packs of spices. They may also web in areas of the kitchen such as cupboards, worktops, under units and doors hinges. The larvae can often also be seen crawling along the walls and ceiling. Although they do not damage fabrics like the Common Clothes Moth these moths are still not to be underestimated. Not only will they ruin food stuffs, but they also have the potential to giving you an uncomfortable breakfast or snack as they can make their way into sealed packaging completed undetected.

The full life cycle can take anywhere between 1-10 months. Females will lay between 60 and 400 eggs in a food source or surfaces. The eggs will then hatch in 2-14 days and then the larvae stage can last from to 2 to 40 weeks depending on temperature.

Do not wait for moths to spread and spoil your home or work premises. Even a slight indication of moth infestation should be enough for you to call us for expert commercial and residential moth treatments in London.

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