Moth Control

Look at where they are and what the wings look like. Clothes moths are small and plain golden-buff (a duller greyish cousin with faint spots turns up too), stay around wardrobes and carpets, and leave holes and fine webbing in wool and other natural fibres. Pantry moths have two-tone wings — pale at the front, coppery-brown at the back — and turn up in the kitchen, with webbing or clumps inside dry food. If you are not sure, send us a photo.

Because the larvae do the damage and they stay hidden in dark, undisturbed places — folded wool at the back of a wardrobe, under furniture, or along carpet edges. The adult moths are small, avoid light, and often go unnoticed. Irregular holes, thinning patches and fine silk webbing in natural fibres are the usual sign.

No — the moth eating a wool carpet is the same clothes moth. Wool carpet under furniture and along skirting boards is the biggest undisturbed meal in the house, so that is one of the first places we look.

They don't bite and aren't known to spread disease to people or pets. The damage is to belongings: wool, silk, cashmere, fur and feather items, carpets and rugs for clothes moths, and dry food for pantry moths. Food with larvae or webbing in it should be thrown out.

We'll give you specific instructions when we book, but generally: clear the affected wardrobes, drawers or pantry shelves so the technician can reach them, and keep aside anything you think is affected rather than moving it to another room. Throw out any dry food with larvae or webbing in it.

No — cleaning and repairing clothing, rugs and carpets is a job for a dry cleaner or carpet specialist, not a pest controller. What we do is find and treat the infestation, and tell you which items need washing, freezing or throwing out so the moths aren't carried back in.