Your response to my question about clothes moths

Question

JMS

Your response to my question about clothes moths

Thank you for your response to my question about the clothes moths I caught not being the source of the holes in my cotton shirts.

I have not found any insetcs, larvae, cocoons, etc. that I can see on the clothes themselves, I only find the holes always in the same place near the belly button area. What other source of damage could it be? When I hang the shirt in my closet or fold it in my wardrobe, it has no holes in it; when I go to wear it a week later there is a hole in it in the belly button area. I have not been able to find any live or dead insects in my closet, wardrobe or elsewhere in my house so I just have no idea what is causing this if it is not the moths I caught. I firmly do not believe the damage is from mechanical sources, for the following reasons: (1) the holes are ALWAYS in the same place on the shirt, the belly button area only, never anywhere else on the garment; (2) the holes are ONLY on cotton shirts, no other types of material or types of clothing like pants, shorts, etc.; (3) I have never had this problem in my entire life (I am 43 years old) until 2 years ago after I moved from Wisconsin to Tennessee and I have the same washing machine, hangers, etc. that I had used in Wisconsin; (4) I have a friend who lives 2 blocks from my house and she is also having the exact same problem, holes in her cotton shirts in the belly button area, and I don't believe we would both have the exact same mechanical problem with our washing machines or other suspected mechanical device.

So for these reasons I just feel certain it has to be some kind of insect attracted to whatever our belly buttons produce on a cotton shirt I guess (and that me and my girlfriend/neighbor both have the same insect problem apparently). What else can I try in order to identify what it might be? If I can't see or find the bugs themsleves in my closet or carpet other than the moths I caught, are there traps for other insects that I should try in order to help identify what I have? How can I find out if I have silverfish, crickets, etc. if I can't see anything like that?

Status: Open Aug 01, 2013 - 10:24 AM

Pest Questions, Product Questions

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Answer

RonDawson

Aug 01, 2013 - 09:47 PM

That is a really unusual problem. Normally, I would think that the armpit areas, and other areas where perspiration occurs would be suspect than a belly button area. And unless you find some sort of insect activity, then you could practically rule them out.

There are some things you can try if you think it has to be insect related.

1) Carefully inspect the clothes after cleaning, and then either place them in a zippered clothes bag or a sealed plastic tub. This is the normal and customary routine for clothes moth or carpet beetle infestations. You have to seal off the clothes from the insects and then see if the damage still occurs. If so, and they are sealed up, and there are no signs of insects, it is something else.

2) Forget cedar or repellent woods, they won't work. Don't waste good money.

Use Insect Guard, or Nuvan Pro Strips. Hang them from the clothes rods and let them work. They emit a pesticide that kills and repels fabric pests and other insects.

3) Treat the entire closet with a residual chemical such as Demand Cs. This product kills moths, beetles, silverfish, cockroaches, etc, and only needs to reapplied every 4-5 months. It is a concentrate and you will need a good hand sprayer.

Clothes Moth Traps only attact and trap moths, they don't affect the population, kill larvae, eggs, etc that actually propogate the infestation and cause damage. Adults don't eat the clothes either. Moth traps can be an effective monitoring tool, but can also attract moths from outside areas that aren't actually causing any problems.

If you haven't treated the home with any pesticide, then maybe it is time to start. Demand CS can be sprayed on baseboards, in corners of closets, under shelving, etc, around the entire home. It can also be sprayed outdoors around the perimeter foundation, doors and windows. It will kill a lot of different insects.

The only other thing I can think of, is that you or your GF are rubbing against something and causing micro tears that can be perpetuated by washing and drying. The only thing I can think of would be the side of a truck, as you are putting things in the back of it.

Maybe try washing the clothes inside out? Switching dry cleaners? Anything to break the cycle.

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