Biology of Moths
Moths are yet another insect that we refer to under a broad category, although there are several dozen different types. Moths are considered pests in many different situations, depending on the species. They may damage trees in the caterpillar or adult stage, or become pests inside at either stage. In this article we are going to take a look at the two most common indoor moth pests, the clothes moth and the Indian meal moth.
Before we begin discussing moth behavior and biology, it’s worthwhile to understand why we are talking about it in the first place. For many years, any unwanted pest was treated to the maximum dosage of the most lethal substance in the broadest possible application. This was as a poor choice, as it adversely affected most other living organisms and the environment in general. The chemical warfare also didn’t do much good when it came to eradicating the pests either; insects particularly are very adaptable and can become immune to pesticides very quickly.
An integrated pest control policy used by most reliable pest control companies today calls for a knowledge of the pest in question, in order to properly execute a plan of action. Understanding where a pest such as a moth is likely to nest, its feeding habits, and its breeding habits make it easier to select an effective solution of pest control.
The physical appearance of moths
As we said earlier, we are going to look at two species of moth in this article, both of which become pests when they are found indoors.
> Indian meal moths are fairly common, and at 1/2 an inch wing span they are also fairly small. They have brown wings and are weak fliers, and have a broad gray band where the wings attach to the body. Indian meal moth caterpillars are slightly longer than the adults, from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch, and come in several different colors.
> Clothes moths is yet another catch all name which refers to three different types of moth pests. Generally these moths are smaller than Indian meal moths, with silvery wings and a whit body.
Moth diets
Although both moths are considered pests inside, they tend to attack different areas. Indian meal moths will be found in materials that humans would also consider food; they prefer the coarse grains of cereals and bran, but will also be found nesting and fluttering about dried fruit, dog food, beans, and chocolate.
Clothes moths, not surprisingly, prefer to eat materials manufactured from animal goods. They can be found on rugs, towels, linens, and in clothes drawers. Generally the moisture in dirty clothes will prove to be an attractant for clothes moths.
Both moths tend to make their nests, lay their eggs, and defecate around their preferred food source. Nests generally look like very dense spider webs, silky and thick.