1. Prepared by: Jack Launius

2. The true fabric insects are unique in their ability to digest an
animal protein called keratin that is found in hair and fur,
horns, hoofs, and insect bodies.
This course covers fabric pests including treatment
strategies, biology, identification and habits of carpet
beetles, webbing cloths moths, case making cloths moths.

3. CARPET BEETLE
 1. One to several dozen eggs are laid in the vicinity of
food sources.
 2. Larvae feed on animal matter; insect collections,
stuffed animals, woolen carpeting, or just accumulations
of pet hair.
 3. Damage does not show evidence of webbing.

4. CARPET BEETLE
 4. After several molts, larvae looks for a hidden place to
pupate; may be underneath furniture, inside hollow
walls or picture frames.

5. CARPET BEETLE
 5. The adult emerges with hard shell wing covers and is
a good flier; they feed on plant pollen – not animal
products. Carpet beetles, as their name implies, are
capable of damaging carpets. These pests will also feed
upon many other materials besides carpets and will
attack any item composed of animal fibers such as wool,
furs, silk, feathers, felt and leather. Serious infestations
of carpet beetles can develop undetected in a home,
causing significant damage to clothing, bedding, floor
coverings and other articles.

6. CARPET BEETLE
 Although there are many different species of carpet
beetles, the adults of all species are small, oval-shaped
beetles about 1/8 inch long. The black carpet beetle
(the most common species) is shiny black. Adults of
other common species are brightly colored in various
patterns of white, brown, yellow and orange.

7. CARPET BEETLE
 The larvae or immature stages of carpet beetles are
about 1/4 inch long and densely covered with hairs or
bristles. Only the larval stage feeds on fabric and causes
damage. The adults feed on flowers, but are often seen
indoors around light fixtures and windows, indicating
that a larval infestation is present somewhere within the
home.

8. CARPET BEETLE
 Carpet beetles feed on a variety of animal-based
materials including wool, fur, silk, feathers and leather.
Items commonly infested include wool sweaters, coats,
blankets, carpets, down pillows and comforters, and
upholstered furniture.

9. CARPET BEETLE
 Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely
attacked unless they are heavily soiled with food stains or
body oils. They prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas
such as closets, attics, within boxes where woolens and
furs are stored, along and under the edges of carpeting,
underneath upholstered furniture, and in air ducts
where they feed on lint, pet hair and other bits of debris.

10. CARPET BEETLE
 Carpet beetle infestations may also originate from bird
or animal nests, rodent bait, or an animal carcass
present in an attic, chimney or wall void. They also
occasionally feed on seeds, pet food or cereal products
in the kitchen or pantry.

11. CARPET BEETLE
 Carpet beetles molt as they develop
shedding their exoskeleton. This
exoskeleton breaks apart, becomes
airborne and is inhaled. This often
causes symptoms misidentified as
scabies, mites and bedbugs.

12. CARPET BEETLE
 Various reports describe what appears to be an acquired
allergic reaction to carpet beetle larval hairs and
hemolymph (insect blood). These hypersensitivity
reactions are characterized by complaints of being bitten
by something causing an intense itching and rash.

13. CARPET BEETLE
 Additionally, in some patients, irritation of the respiratory
tract and eyes may develop. Apparently, only individuals
that have long-term exposure (years) to these hairs become
sensitized.
 Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate Feb 2010 Penn State

14. CARPET BEETLE
 Black carpet beetle: distinctive appearance; adult has
black body with brown legs, 1/8" long, larvae has long
hairs trailing from 1/4" long, carrot shaped body.

15. CARPET BEETLE
 Varied carpet beetle: adult is oval shaped with mottled
white, brown, and yellow scales, 1/16"·long; folded wings
come together smooth at the end of the body; larvae is
wedge shaped with the head at the narrow end of the
3/16" long hairy body.

16. CARPET BEETLE
 Common carpet beetle: adult appears similar to varied
carpet beetle with orange scales down the middle of the
back; larvae are reddish.

17. CARPET BEETLE
 Furniture carpet beetle: adult is slightly larger than
varied carpet beetle, yellow, white, and black scales
with a definite wing cleft; larvae head is at wide end.

18. Furniture carpet beetle

19. CLOTHES MOTHS
 Clothes moths are very secretive, light shy, and very weak
fliers. The flying adults will usually only be noticed
fluttering in a closet when the door is opened. Adult
clothes moths are very short lived and do not feed. The
adults are about 3/8" long and have fringes on the outer
edges of the wings. They deposit their soft, white eggs on
such items as feathers, furs, woolen clothing, and also
insect remains.

20. The Facts About Fabric Pests
 The true fabric insects are unique in their ability to
digest an animal protein called keratin that is found in
hair and fur, horns, hoofs, and insect bodies.
 This course covers fabric pests including treatment
strategies, biology, identification and habits of carpet
beetles, webbing cloths moths, case making cloths
moths.

21. CLOTHES MOTHS
 The eggs hatch in about four days to up to a month in
winter. The eggs should not be confused with the hard
bun shaped fecal pellets often found on the infested
material. The moth larvae need other proteins than
what they receive from keratin alone, which is why
soiled garments are more attractive than cleaned,
protected ones.

22. CLOTHES MOTHS
 The larval stage of clothes moths are creamy-white
caterpillars up to 1/2-inch long. Webbing clothes moth
larvae spin silken feeding tunnels or patches of webbing as
they move about on the surface of fabrics. The casemaking
clothes moth encloses itself in a portable case that it drags
about wherever it goes.

23. CLOTHES MOTHS
 Females of both species lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs
during a 2- to 3-week period and die once they've
completed the egg-laying process. Males outlive females
and continue to mate during the remainder of their lives.
An adhesive secretion attaches the eggs to the fabric
threads. Eggs hatch in 4 to 10 days during warm weather.

24. CLOTHES MOTHS
 Larvae molt 5 to 45 times, depending on indoor
temperatures and the type of food available. The larval
period lasts 35 days to 2 1/2 years. Larvae are shiny
white, and their head capsules are dark-colored.

25. CLOTHES MOTHS
 They spin webbing as they feed, with the webbing
clothes moth creating a temporary silken feeding tube
or tunnel and the casemaking clothes moth creating a
permanent silken case that larvae carry with them as
they move around.

26. CLOTHES MOTHS
 When larvae of the casemaking clothes moth are ready
to pupate, they wander away from their food source to
find crevices. With the webbing clothes moth, pupation
takes place inside a silken cocoon, usually on the fabric.

27. CLOTHES MOTHS
 Pupation lasts 8 to 10 days in summer and 3 to 4 weeks
in winter. Heated buildings enable clothes moths to
continue developing during winter months. Generally,
developmental time for the clothes moth from egg to
egg is between four to six months, and there are usually
two generations a year.

28. CLOTHES MOTHS
 Damage to articles may consist of irregular surface
feeding or holes eaten completely through the fabric.
Oftentimes, the larvae leave the material they
developed on and can be seen crawling slowly over
walls or ceilings. The casemaking clothes moth, in
particular, may travel considerable distances from the
infested article to spin its cocoon in a protected crack, or
along the juncture of a wall and ceiling.

29. WEBBING CLOTHES MOTH
Most common, adult's wings
are golden buff color and
reddish hairs may be noticed
on the head; the larvae spins
large amounts of silk into
feeding mats under which it
feeds; webbing will show the
fecal pellets.

30. WEBBING CLOTHES MOTH
 A row of golden hairs fringes its wings, which have a
span of about 1/2 inch. Because these moths are weak
flyers that aren't attracted to lights, you'll usually find
them close to the infested items, such as in a dark area
of the closet.

31. CASE-MAKING CLOTHES MOTH
 Adult's wings are brown with three dark spots on each,
these spots rub off easily. The wings of the casemaking
clothes moth are more brownish and have faint dark-
colored spots. Also, the hairs on its head are lighter
colored than those of the webbing clothes moth.

32. CASE-MAKING CLOTHES MOTH
 The larvae spins a silken tube or case around itself in
which it remains; the tube contains bits of the
surrounding material; the larvae will die if it is removed
from the case; in addition to fabrics, the case-maker also
feeds on plant products.

35. Fabric pest treatment typically involves
 Identification of infested clothing.
 Vacuuming the perimeter of the rooms and closet
shelving.
 A crack and crevice treatment at the perimeter of all the
rooms and closet shelving.
 A residual boron dust application to outlets in infested
rooms.
 In carpeted rooms a boron dust application will be made
under the carpet in accessible corners.

36. Fabric pest treatment typically involves:
 Extreme cases may require freezing or fumigation of
clothing.
 You can also control clothes moths by heating the
infested item in an oven for at least 30 minutes at
temperatures higher than 120°F
 Enclosing the item in a plastic bag and placing it in a
freezer for several days at temperatures lower than 18°F.

37. Fabric pest treatment typically involves:
 Fumigating the item with dry ice. Before using any of these
methods, consider if cold or heat will damage the fabric.
 The most common and effective method for killing all
stages of clothes moths in clothing, blankets, and other
washable articles is to thoroughly launder them for 20 to
30 minutes in water that is at least 120°F

38. Photos courtesy of photographers published
on Bugwood.org ITP Node
Thank you for your contribution.
•Joseph Berger, Bugwood.Org
•Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
•University of Georgia, Bugwood.Org
•Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
•Mohammed El Damir, Bugwood.Org

39. You have completed the course.
 You are ready to take the quiz and receive your credit.