When you take out your winter clothes later this year, the most you'll want to do before wearing them again may be an airing out of woolens and other natural-fiber pieces. If you discover holes, worn areas or discolorations, you may not have done enough to protect your wearables from clothes moths.
There are thousands of moth species, but only two types - case-making and webbing - are considered clothes moths. The protective cases of case-making moths reflect the color of the fabric they attack, and the moths withdraw into the case if they're detected. Webbing moths create a series of feeding tubes in silk webs while they feed.
Also, adult moths aren't the ones damaging your stored clothes - it's the larvae that feed on animal fibers, wool and cashmere and leave holes as telltale signs.
There are two common ways that clothes moths may have invaded home closets or dry cleaners' storage areas where many consumers store their furs and heavy clothing. They've either been introduced into closets by clothing pieces that were brought in and haven't been cleaned properly or the storage area has been harboring the pests in drawers and shelves that haven't been cleaned for a while.
There are also two pest management methods that people can use to keep clothes from falling victim to cloth-eating moths - cleaning before storage and containment in airtight bags or boxes. Cedar balls and other moth treatments aren't too effective, if at all, when these steps aren't taken.
Since clothes moths thrive in darkness, check the darkest corners of your storage areas as well as crevices and folds of clothing where they may be hiding. Hiring a pest removal service like Abell Pest Control to come in to clean and treat storage areas will eradicate the moths from their hideouts and advise you on ways to keep them away.
Although moths aren't likely to nest in clothes that are worn frequently, some pieces that you wear infrequently and keep readily at hand in your closet may also be at risk. The same protocol applies - clean them regularly by washing in hot water or dry cleaning. Once clothes are clean, take everything out of the closet to vacuum the whole space and scrub down surfaces and drawers thoroughly.
Using airtight bags and tight-fitted containers for rarely used clothes that you keep in your closet is also recommended. If the adult pests can't get at them, they can't lay eggs that will do them harm.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
In the summer months, people love to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some even venture to farmers markets where the food is cheaper. However, not only do fruits come home with you, fruit flies may too. Once they've gotten acclimated in your home, they might stay all summer. These pests breed quickly, and tend to spread through whatever food you've got around. They also are happy to join in on any meal you have, be it a sit-down dinner or a barbecue in your backyard. Worst of all, like other flies, they carry disease. Consider these tips on how to prevent fruit flies from coming home with you.
