clothes moth
Sweater-eating insect
A clothes moth is a small, pale-colored moth whose larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, and feathers, making them household pests that damage clothing, carpets, and upholstery.
The adult moths themselves don't eat fabric—it's the caterpillars that do the damage, often going unnoticed until holes appear.
I found clothes moth larvae in my grandmother's vintage wool coat.
Openings through material
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- eatingIngesting sustenance
- chewingCrushing food orally
- woolSheared animal fiber
silk · cashmere · keratin · deterioration · fraying · tattering · degradation · discoloration
Sheared animal fiber
- cashmereFine goat-derived textile
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- furAnimal body hair
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
felt · carpets · upholstery · sweaters · blankets · coats · suits · taxidermy
Pest-deterrent storage pellets
- cedarDurable, fragrant conifer
- lavenderFragrant herb, pale violet
- trapsDevices for catching prey
- pheromonesSpecies-specific chemical messengers
freezing · dry cleaning · vacuuming · inspection · mothproofing · naphthalene · sachets · repellent
Immature metamorphosing creatures
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- hatchingEmergence from an egg
- cocoonSilk wrapping for transformation
webbing · casings · frass · infestation · spread · multiplication · colonization · proliferation
Public exhibit space
- archivalOf preserved documents
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- textilesWoven or knit materials
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
antiques · climate control · humidity · acid-free · storage · anoxia · freezing · sealing
Butterfly and moth order
- entomologyStudy of insects
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- pupaInsect's resting stage
- moltShed outer covering
caterpillar · arthropod · invertebrate · nocturnal · antennae · wings
Agents that exterminate bugs
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
- exterminatorOne who eradicates vermin
- pesticideAgent destroying harmful organisms
- pyrethrinPlant-based insect toxin
permethrin · larvicide · sprays · heat treatment · biological control · boric acid · diatomaceous earth
holes
Openings through material
wool · silk · cashmere · keratin · deterioration · fraying · tattering · degradation · discoloration · stains
wool
Sheared animal fiber
feathers · felt · carpets · upholstery · sweaters · blankets · coats · suits · taxidermy · tapestries
mothballs
Pest-deterrent storage pellets
pheromones · freezing · dry cleaning · vacuuming · inspection · mothproofing · naphthalene · sachets · repellent · camphor
larvae
Immature metamorphosing creatures
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- hatchingEmergence from an egg
cocoon · webbing · casings · frass · infestation · spread · multiplication · colonization · proliferation · outbreak
museum
Public exhibit space
heritage · antiques · climate control · humidity · acid-free · storage · anoxia · freezing · sealing · monitoring
Lepidoptera
Butterfly and moth order
- entomologyStudy of insects
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- pupaInsect's resting stage
molt · caterpillar · arthropod · invertebrate · nocturnal · antennae · wings
insecticides
Agents that exterminate bugs
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
- exterminatorOne who eradicates vermin
- pesticideAgent destroying harmful organisms
pyrethrin · permethrin · larvicide · sprays · heat treatment · biological control · boric acid · diatomaceous earth
- moth pests
- pest moths
- household pestsant, cockroach, roach, housefly, house fly
- pestsants, ant, bugs, cockroach, cockroaches
- urban wildlifepigeon, house mouse, brown rat, house sparrow, rat
- Lepidopterabutterflies, monarch, cocoons, chrysalis, swallowtail
clothes mothbutterfly
Winged insect from caterpillar
monarch butterfly · swallowtail · painted lady · silk moth · luna moth
clothes mothbeneficial insect
Arthropod aiding agriculture
ladybug · house spider · cedar wood · honeybee · mothball
clothes mothfabric protector
Chemical coating preventing stains
moth repellent · preservation · mothball · silkworm · cedar
cloth, clothes, clothing, moth, clothe, moths, unclothed, reclothe