A picture of the enemy - the clothes moth
Tinea Pellionella
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Please visit Wikimedia Commons
This is an illustration from a 19th century text obtained from Wikimedia Commons
A is the head of the beast
B are the eggs on the weave they are very tiny and hard to see
C is the worm emerging from the egg
D is the larvae the stage at which the moth eats your clothes
Beware of the vicious hat eating moths
Why do clothes moths eat clothes?
People are very aware of termites eating wood much to the devastation of houses and other buildings. In their case it is the cellulose in wood that they are looking for. In the case of clothes moths it is an ingredient called keratin. (Not to be confused of course with carotene from carrots this is a good thing). Keratin is the protein ingredient in skin, hair and fingernails in humans. In the animal world it is contained in horns, hoofs, and in the hat materials such as fur and feathers, and hair (including wool).
The ability to consume keratin is rare in the insect world or so I have read. In the USA and Canada we have two common clothes moth species and some carpet beetles that have this “ability”. Getting itchy yet? Some other species chew fabric as collateral damage if they are actually after residue of human oil, food stains and other unmentionable things.
It is mostly natural products containing keratin that the clothes moths target. You should be careful that your precious clothes (including your hats) made of synthetic fibers are stored clean of residues that may be attractive to a variety of bugs. They will eat the residue and chew on your clothes, including hats, to get what they want. Too gross to contemplate eh?
Only the children of clothes moths eat clothes.
Just like a butterfly the clothes moth goes through a complete metamorphosis - from egg to larvae to pupa and then to adult. The feeding takes place at the larvae stage. They are cream colored with brown heads.
Identification of clothes moths
Not all moths species eat clothes. It is only certain moths that will eat your clothes. If you have a passion for entomology, you might like to consult this Wikipedia entry in the first instance.
Clothes moths are generally very small with a wingspan of less than ½ inch (approximately 2.5 centimeters). They are very difficult to spot unless you disturb them. They are shy and cowardly creatures, certainly nocturnal in habit. They hide in dark places such as attics and closets and the folds of old fabric. They are rarely seen flying about. Obviously if you see one it is a call to action to make sure your stuff is stored appropriately since these may not be eating your clothes but they certainly lay eggs yuck!
It is the larvae that do the eating as I noted. These are cream colored with brown heads. You can see one in the illustration above. It may be too late but you will be able to take steps to protect other hats or other clothes. You might spot the pupa which looks like a silk bundle. Of course the pupa you spot may not be a clothes moth but do you love bugs that much? Perhaps you do and then you can investigate further. For my part I prefer not to take any chances.
To learn more about identification of clothes moths and there various incarnations you can go read Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. The illustration above is one of the clothes moth species.
How do you protect yourself from clothes moths?
Numero Uno is good housekeeping practices. This sounds good if you are a Martha Stewart type sadly many of us are not. Nevertheless we should make an effort lest our precious items fall prey to these pests. Keep your closets clean and tidy. Do not leave your clothes in a neglected pile. Launder clothes prior to storing. Make sure your hat is clean before storing, such cleaning depending on the fabric. Check out nooks and crannies such as between carpet and baseboard (these pests are also partial to your wool or silk carpets). Keep those rugs and carpets clean especially next to the baseboard.
Most damage is often done to stuff that is left for long periods of time. You must inspect these items periodically and if you wear them a few times they are less likely to attack. Perhaps you should send your old items to a thrift store?
By the way be VERY careful will stuff purchased from thrift stores. Ensure they are clean before putting with other items. Inspect those vintage hats very carefully and clean them well according to the type of hat. Take particular care by storing them in tight boxes. If there is an infestation in the item you do not spot at least you will be somewhat protected from infection of other items. This is not a guarantee and you must accept the risk. Perhaps you store the items in a separate area of your home?
Inspect potential problem areas of your home periodically, looking for larvae and pupa. Y0u may need to use a flashlight and nail file in the baseboard area.
Some people urge proper climate control in your home and avoid humidity, the insects friend. Other measures include illumination of closets and the use of tight fitting doors and drapes.
In my great aunt’s day (she was born in the late 1800s) there was a great fondness for moth balls. When her closet and drawers were emptied there were enough moth balls to fill a hardware store. These kill the moths and larvae but have a negative effect on you hats and other clothes and may make these unwearable. Baron hats refer to the two chemicals naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene as being very toxic to hats. Well their very names suggest they be handled with care. They can damage delicate stuff like hats by close contact and there is a significant transfer of fumes to the item. Best to avoid these chemicals at least for hats and many other clothing items.
How to store your hats
In the words of Baron Hats you do not want your hat to look like something that resembles more like something SpongeBob SquarePants would wear! Or, it will make a great spaghetti strainer
Baron Hats provide some useful pointers on this subject of protection from moth damage.
First of all do not use moth balls (see above). I certainly agree with their advice on this point.
Barons suggest using cedar as moth ball substitute. Perhaps cedar shavings used in hamster care and available from the pet store could be employed as part of the packing process? You must keep the cedar away from contact with your hat. Wrap the hat accordingly using tissue. I would look at some plastic barrier in addition provided the hat is not tightly wrapped. It is the aroma of the cedar, pleasant to humans, but unpleasant to moths, that is the protection but only effective in a container that is tightly sealed. Hopefully your hat box sits snugly You could also employ cedar blocks around the area of your hat storage as an additional countermeasure Barons suggests.
In addition to the excellent advice from Baron Hats please note the general precautions I have found in my research. Be very careful of the neighboring area of your hat storage. I would avoid damp dark basements or attics or less used areas. If you must use such areas clean and inspect them frequently is my advice. You must inspect your hats periodically to make sure all is well.
What do you do in case of infestation?
Even if you follow this advice you may well still get infected. It may be time to call a professional exterminator – it probably is.
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