Winter moth infestation - Ask Extension
I have attached a photo of a moth that has infested our home for the last few weeks. If they are in food or clothing, we sure cannot find any source.T...
Knowledgebase
Winter moth infestation #113866
Asked February 06, 2013, 11:46 AM EST
I have attached a photo of a moth that has infested our home for the last few weeks. If they are in food or clothing, we sure cannot find any source.
They appear each day at dusk, concentrated in our downstairs rec room, which is drywall, and upstairs living area, which is paneled in barn wood that has been there for 40 years. Even though I watch, I cannot see where they appear from - the carpet downstairs? There is hardwood in the upstairs area where they appear.
Maybe just out of cracks I cannot see. I see a few of the same moths on the cedar siding outside the door to the rec room, but it seems more like they got outside from the inside, rather than the other way around. I don't know though.
We have pulled out all furniture, vacuumed baseboards and sealed off an unused furnace duct. I have looked through all kinds of stored food products without finding a trace. The open pantry is in the living area, but I have only ever found one or two moths there - fewer than elsewhere.
We have no damage to clothing or other fibers that we can discover.
They are 5/16 inches long and we have killed hundreds by vacuuming or grabbing them with a tissue.
If anyone can identify this moth and tell me if it infests food, clothing or came from outside, I would sure appreciate it. We don't think there is some kind of continuing access from the outside in, but we don't know what they could be eating inside they allows them to (apparently) keep reproducing.
Thank you so much,
Debbie
They appear each day at dusk, concentrated in our downstairs rec room, which is drywall, and upstairs living area, which is paneled in barn wood that has been there for 40 years. Even though I watch, I cannot see where they appear from - the carpet downstairs? There is hardwood in the upstairs area where they appear.
Maybe just out of cracks I cannot see. I see a few of the same moths on the cedar siding outside the door to the rec room, but it seems more like they got outside from the inside, rather than the other way around. I don't know though.
We have pulled out all furniture, vacuumed baseboards and sealed off an unused furnace duct. I have looked through all kinds of stored food products without finding a trace. The open pantry is in the living area, but I have only ever found one or two moths there - fewer than elsewhere.
We have no damage to clothing or other fibers that we can discover.
They are 5/16 inches long and we have killed hundreds by vacuuming or grabbing them with a tissue.
If anyone can identify this moth and tell me if it infests food, clothing or came from outside, I would sure appreciate it. We don't think there is some kind of continuing access from the outside in, but we don't know what they could be eating inside they allows them to (apparently) keep reproducing.
Thank you so much,
Debbie
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
I am fairly confident that this moth is Taygete decemmaculella. It is more typically seen in Colorado during the summer months, especially July and August. I've personally seen it outside in August, in Larimer County. It does seem to be a nocturnal moth.
As for it's host plant or food preference, I was not able to find that information. At the very least, it is "overwintering" inside where it is warmer, due to the often cold temperatures outside this time of year.
I would like to give an update on our moth situation. We have learned a few things in the three months since you identified the moth. I don't know if anyone will find it helpful, but this is the story so far.
We had to resort to pesticide, which has greatly reduced their numbers. However, they are still here because they are in the subfloor and we have so far chosen not to tear out the lower-level ceiling to get to them. We are as confident as we can be that they are breeding inside, not continuing to come in.
At this point, I don't know if we will ever be rid of them, but at least instead of killing a couple of hundred every night, it is only five or 10.
We have not yet cleaned the air ducts because that is not the only place they live - they come out of light fixtures too, for instance. But cleaning the ducts is probably our next step.
Debbie
We had to resort to pesticide, which has greatly reduced their numbers. However, they are still here because they are in the subfloor and we have so far chosen not to tear out the lower-level ceiling to get to them. We are as confident as we can be that they are breeding inside, not continuing to come in.
At this point, I don't know if we will ever be rid of them, but at least instead of killing a couple of hundred every night, it is only five or 10.
We have not yet cleaned the air ducts because that is not the only place they live - they come out of light fixtures too, for instance. But cleaning the ducts is probably our next step.
Debbie
Thanks Debbie for your update. Sorry to hear how extensive the problem is. They must be a great nuisance.
I haven't been able to find out what their food of choice is, but it sounds like it is either indoor material (possibly carpet), or possibly something in dirt below the wood floor. I wouldn't think it would be wood (as the floor itself), or dust (as in the vents).
It is understandable that pesticides would need to be used. As long as used safely, that will cut down on the numbers while working towards eliminating them completely over time.
Please keep us updated, including what is working and what isn't. We'll add this to our knowledge base for this species, and continue to try and find more information about them as well.
Thank you!
I haven't been able to find out what their food of choice is, but it sounds like it is either indoor material (possibly carpet), or possibly something in dirt below the wood floor. I wouldn't think it would be wood (as the floor itself), or dust (as in the vents).
It is understandable that pesticides would need to be used. As long as used safely, that will cut down on the numbers while working towards eliminating them completely over time.
Please keep us updated, including what is working and what isn't. We'll add this to our knowledge base for this species, and continue to try and find more information about them as well.
Thank you!
We may have eliminated the moths, for now. We had two professional applications of pesticide, a month apart, and dusted ourselves once about a month later when they seemed to be multiplying again.
I haven't seen a live moth in a few days, which is a first since mid-December. No one was living in our lower level until a couple of weeks ago when our daughter moved in. She'll only be here a month, so I hope it's not her perfume that's keeping them at bay.
I did check "hot spots" for moths several times a day and killed any I saw. That, vacuuming everywhere and pesticide inside and out may have led to their control. Or it's the warmer weather and they'll be back.
I hope this update helps.
Debbie
I haven't seen a live moth in a few days, which is a first since mid-December. No one was living in our lower level until a couple of weeks ago when our daughter moved in. She'll only be here a month, so I hope it's not her perfume that's keeping them at bay.
I did check "hot spots" for moths several times a day and killed any I saw. That, vacuuming everywhere and pesticide inside and out may have led to their control. Or it's the warmer weather and they'll be back.
I hope this update helps.
Debbie
