Carpet Moth Larvae Cocoon

Case bearing carpet moth larvae on fabric.

Carpet moth larvae cocoon.

Infested material is often littered with empty silk bags or cases figure 6 which resemble grains of rice. Their larvae which are caterpillars are voracious eaters. The eggs are only 1mm long but once hatched into larvae search for food immediately and along with wool can consume cotton linen and silk. Each larva spins a cocoon when it pupates so the presence of silk like casings also indicate carpet moths.

Let s look at how are they able to trespass on your property. Clothing moths these are the ones that eat wool come in two varieties case making moths which are most common in the southern us and the webbing moth which has a much wider range. Eggs hatch into larvae and larvae pupate into carpet moths. They eat a lot.

Carpet moths can cause expensive and upsetting damage once they find their way into your house. Carpet tapestry moths tend to lay their eggs in the darkest patches of your carpet such as under furniture behind curtains or by skirting boards. The larvae do the real damage. Eventually making a cocoon and hatching into moths to repeat the cycle.

Alamy i f you have never heard of the case bearing carpet moth tinea pellionella you are lucky they have probably not invaded your home. Caterpillars spin silk and this silk is used to form the cocoon for the pupal stage of development the final stage before adulthood. Tinea pellionella are carpet moth lavea in a cocoon case they look like tiny bullet shaped cotton bud tips with open ends and the creature sticks its head out and can move the cocoon usually up walls and are often found in the bases of divan beds. Synthetics aren t so much at risk.

The larvae then leave a mark everywhere they go. First and foremost any opening can be inviting for these moths. In warmer areas they can go from egg to pupation into adults in little over a month. Depending on temperatures and humidity conditions carpet moth larvae can live for up to nearly 3 years eating your home textiles that s for colder climates.

The larva moults within the case and when fully grown it pupates within the cocoon and eventually the adult moth emerges to mate and lay eggs.