The Common Clothes Moth – Tineola bisselliella, the Case Bearing Clothes Moth – Tinaea pellionella, the White Shouldered House Moth – Endrosis sarcitrella, the Brown Tail Moth – Euproctis chrysorrhoea, The Warehouse Moth – Ephestia elutella.
There are other moth species but those above are the most common moth we are asked to deal with here in Dorset and the surrounding areas.
If you have a birds nest in the eves of your house it may be possible the Brown House Moth will be visiting your kitchen, larder, bedrooms and outbuildings.
In commercial food premises and farming the most serious pest is the Warehouse Moth and White Shouldered House Moth as its faecal matter and silk production causes serious contamination. In Dorset we have an abundance of the Brown Tail Moth which is more specific to the South Coast of England commonly found in orchards. It is the furry caterpillar stage of this Moth we see so abundantly on bushes. The hairs of this caterpillar easily detatch and this can cause severe irritation to humans.
Treating any Moth infestation requires a planned approach to eradication at all of the lifecycle stages. Egg – Larva – Pupae – Adult. Techniques will include fogging, residual applications and heat treatments of clothing to completely remove this pest.
