Clothes moth fight against it. Choosing a product to combat moths at home. How to deal with kitchen moths

16.10.2023

In the photo Apple moth fruit leaf roller
Pictured: Apple moth caterpillars

Apple moth or apple moth Simaethis pariana Cl. (syn. Anthophila pariana Cl.,),- a small butterfly with a wingspan of 10-12 mm.

The caterpillars are yellowish-green, have a light brown head and shiny spots on each body segment. Body length 12-13 mm. They live alone, skeletonize leaves on the upper side, and in case of danger they immediately leave the leaf, going down the web. Two generations of the pest develop per year. The most harmful is the second generation, which develops in late summer - early autumn and whose caterpillars cause massive damage to the leaves before drying out. Premature falling of leaves negatively affects the ripening of shoots and their frost resistance. Having finished feeding, the caterpillars of the second generation pupate, soon butterflies emerge, which, with the onset of frost, hide and overwinter until next year. The pest is widespread and damages all fruit and many berry bushes.

See what the apple moth looks like in the photo illustrating the different stages of development of the pest:

Control measures. Spraying in the spring, before the buds fully open and immediately after the end of flowering of apple trees, with the drug fufanon or its analogues (kemifos, karbofos). If there are a large number of second-generation caterpillars, repeat spraying with the same preparations is carried out at the end of summer or early autumn, taking into account the waiting period for each specific preparation. Collecting and burning fallen leaves.

In the photo, the pocket-edged moth
In the photo of the caterpillar Moth moth

Pocket edge moth, or silver apple moth Ornix guttea Haw., is a very small butterfly with a wingspan of 12-13 mm. The forewings are narrow, dark brown with white silvery spots and a long delicate fringe of silvery color. The caterpillar is up to 5 mm long, with 7 pairs of legs, green, lives in pockets made from the curved edges of the leaf and skeletonizes the leaf from the underside. Two generations develop per year - summer and autumn. Significant damage is caused by caterpillars of the second generation, which are more numerous.

Control measures.Spraying trees immediately after flowering with one of the following preparations: fufanon, kemifos, kinmiks, actellik, spark, Inta-Vir. If the pest population is large, spraying is repeated in the summer with the same preparations, taking into account the waiting period.

In the photo, apple-leaf moth
In the photo, the caterpillar of the apple moth

Apple leaf moth Lithocolletis pyrifoliella Grsm.- a very small butterfly with a wingspan of 8-9 mm. The wings are narrow, long, with a delicate fringe of silver color. The caterpillar is small, yellow-green, lives inside the leaf, feeds on the parenchyma and forms a characteristic mine. The mine on the upper side of the leaf is in the form of a wide oval spot up to 2.5 cm long, yellowish-brown, bubble-shaped, located along the veins. Excrement is usually located in the form of a lump in the central part of the mine. 1-3 generations of the pest develop per year.

Control measures.

Pictured is the apple ermine moth.
The photo shows the caterpillars of the ermine moth

Apple ermine mothYponomeuta malinellus Zell. - a small butterfly with black dots on the front wings, the hind wings are silver-gray. The caterpillars are 17-18 mm long, yellow-white to dark gray in color, with two rows of black dots on the back. Caterpillars live in colonies, forming cobweb nests. Younger caterpillars overwinter in oviposition under the scutes. In the spring they bite into the buds, and then into young leaves, where they feed for 10-15 days. During the flowering of the apple tree, the caterpillars crawl out of the leaf blade and create a web tent of several leaves, which they feed on. Each brood can contain up to 70 caterpillars, which during their feeding period (35-40 days) constantly crawl to neighboring branches and form new nests. Having finished feeding, the caterpillars pupate inside the common nest in separate white cocoons. In June, white butterflies emerge, and after fertilization, the females lay eggs in clusters in the form of scutes. One female can lay from 20 to 100 eggs. The hatched caterpillars feed under the scutes, gnawing on the bark, and enter diapause until the spring of next year. The apple ermine moth is widespread and greatly harms apple orchards.

Control measures. Preventive spraying of trees during bud break and immediately after flowering with one of the following preparations: Fufanon, Kemifos, Kinmiks, Actellik, Iskra, Inta-Vir. Individual nests with caterpillars are cut off and destroyed. In case of large numbers, spraying is repeated with the same preparations.

How to deal with fruit ermine moth on an apple tree

In the photo, the ermine fruit moth
The photo shows a fruit moth caterpillar

Ermine fruit moth Yponomeuta padellus L. (syn. Y. variabilis Z.)- a small snow-white moth with black dots on the front wings and a gray fringe on the upper edge. The hind wings are silver-gray. The eggs are oval, gray in color, located in oviposition in the form of scutes measuring 4-7 mm. The caterpillar is 17-18 mm long, from dark gray to yellow-white in color, has two rows of black scutes on its back, and from early spring it damages buds and young leaves, skeletonizing and eating them at the edges, causing the leaves to dry out half. During the flowering of the apple tree, the caterpillars weave cobweb nests and live in colonies of 20-70 pieces.

Having finished feeding, after 35-40 days the caterpillars pupate, each in a separate white cobweb cocoon, and these cocoons are scattered throughout the branch. The cocoons are thin, transparent, and a striped pupa can be seen inside. The head, chest and end of the abdomen are black, and the main part of the abdomen is bright yellow with a number of dark triangular spots. In June, butterflies emerge, feed on nectar, and females lay eggs in clusters in the form of scutes on branches. The fertility of females is 20-70 eggs. The hatched caterpillars gnaw the bark under the shield and enter diapause until the spring of next year. Damages all stone and pome crops, rowan, bird cherry, willow, ash and oak.

How to fight ermine fruit moths on an apple tree is described in the previous paragraph.

How to fight pocket leaf miner on apple trees

In the photo, pocket miner moth
The photo shows a pocket moth caterpillar

Mining pocket moth, or white-spotted pocket moth Ornix petiolella Frey (syn. Parornix petiolella FreyJ, is a small gray butterfly with a wingspan of up to 12 mm. The front wings are very narrow, gray, with numerous oblique light strokes, the hind wings are light gray, with a long delicate fringe. The caterpillars are very small, yellow-green, with 7 pairs of legs, live in white rounded mines under the upper skin of the leaf, eating away the parenchyma. The length is min 10 mm, and the width is 5 mm. Damages apple leaves and, less commonly, pear and stone fruit leaves.

How to fight moths on apple trees is described further on the page - use all available means and methods.

Control measures

In the photo, the hawthorn circle moth
The photo shows the caterpillars of the hawthorn moth

Hawthorn circle moth Cemiostoma scitella L. - a small butterfly with narrow wings and long delicate fringe. They become entangled in the leaf parenchyma, forming mines. Mines in the form of small round wide spots of a dark color, usually several on a leaf, excrement arranged in a spiral visible through the skin. In addition to apple trees, moths are often found on hawthorn, cherry, and rowan.

Control measures. The same as against the pocket moth.

In the photo the apple moth
The photo shows moth caterpillars

Apple moth Lithocolletis pomiella Grsm. - a small butterfly with a wingspan of 8-9 mm. The wings are long, narrow, fringed with delicate fringe. The black caterpillar lives under the epidermis of the upper side of the leaf and feeds on the parenchyma, forming a mine. The mine is spot-shaped, excrement is usually collected in the corner part of the mine.

Control measures. The same as against the pocket moth.

In the photo, the baby apple moth
In the photo there is a baby moth caterpillar

Little apple moth, or little apple leaf miner Stigmella mallelli Stt., is a very small butterfly with a wingspan of up to 5 mm. The wings are thin, narrow, lanceolate, with a fringe of long shiny hairs. The head is covered with dense hairs, the first antennal segment is expanded, the venation of the wings is reduced. The caterpillar is yellowish-white, flat, legless, and feeds on the parenchyma inside the leaf, making long, thin, flagellate-like, often thread-like mines on the upper side of the leaves. It is widespread and causes the greatest harm to apple trees.

Control measures. The same as against the pocket moth.

In the photo, white apple moth
Pictured is a baby moth caterpillar

White apple moth or apple miner moth Lyonetia clerckella L., is a small butterfly with narrow fore wings of silver-gray or brownish color.

There is a black protrusion at the apex, and 3 black spots on the leading edge. Hind wings with fringe. The caterpillars are light green, with a dark head and dark legs, body length 5 mm. The second generation butterflies overwinter and partly the eggs they lay at the base of the buds. In the spring, caterpillars emerging from eggs bite into young leaves and feed there. Overwintered butterflies lay eggs on leaves. The emerging caterpillars live inside the leaf blade and make narrow winding passages, filling them with their excrement.

Feeding lasts 20-25 days, the caterpillars gnaw a hole on the underside of the leaf and pupate near it in a white cocoon. After about two weeks, the butterflies emerge and begin laying eggs on the leaves. In September-October, butterflies of the second generation appear and overwinter. The baby moth severely damages apple trees, stone fruits, mountain ash, hawthorn, shadberry, and many deciduous trees in orchards.

Control measures. The same as against the pocket moth.

Mole causes a lot of trouble for the owners; it can damage everything in the apartment: clothes, food, carpets. When such a nuisance arises in an apartment, only one question revolves in your head: how to quickly get rid of this pest?

At first glance, this is a harmless insect, because it will not bite a person, and it does not carry infections. But the damage moths can cause to things, products, and objects in the apartment requires special attention.

In order to clean your apartment of pests, you need to understand what type of moth has settled in your home.

It has the following properties:

Gets rid of mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents, ants, bedbugs
Safe for children and pets
Powered by mains, no recharging required
There is no addictive effect in pests
Large area of operation of the device

How to get rid of moths forever?

You can get rid of food moths in fairly simple and simple ways:

Seal cereals in metal or glass jars.
Place garlic and orange zest on the shelf. Garlic can also be placed in jars of cereal.
You can set traps; they are sold in many stores today. These products are a triangular box with a sticky composition. The work is based on pheromones, which serve as bait. Once caught in a trap, the moth will never free itself from there. It is better to place them in the closet where the food is located. Also, do not forget to periodically replace them with new ones, namely every two months.

If food moths tend to appear in the kitchen in the warm season, then indoor individuals can live in the house all year round, their nests are carefully hidden from humans. Adults can go without food for a month. Sub-zero room temperature is an effective way to get rid of it, and in greenhouse conditions insects can live for 2 years.

Leather, wool and fur products are more difficult to remove moths from. In this case, only dichlorvos will help.

In general, it is quite difficult to get rid of the pest without using chemicals. Today, store shelves are overflowing with various anti-moth products. Before using them, you should carefully study the instructions so as not to harm the body.

Aerosols

Using sprays you can get rid of the pest in the most difficult places. Aerosols are often used to treat books, furniture, clothing, and dark places. The substances contained in the aerosol help get rid of both butterflies and their larvae. But it is impossible to treat the entire house with this product, for example, food and dishes.

Fumigators

The action of fumigators occurs more slowly than aerosols. It will take several weeks for the moth to be completely eradicated.

But this is a fairly easy way to deal with it; you just need to turn on the fumigator with a pre-inserted plate or liquid. Heating the device causes the substance contained in it to evaporate.

Section

Anti-moth sections are considered the most convenient method of killing moths. The manufacturer offers a choice of chamomile, lavender, and tangerine scents. There are sections for children's products.

One section is designed for 15 square meters. It should not be placed near food or in places accessible to the child. You should remove the tape and attach the anti-moth section in the upper corner of the cabinet, from where fumes that are poisonous to insects will emanate. The service life of one of these is 6 months.

Folk remedies

There are several effective folk ways to get rid of the pest:

Use of essential oil(lavender, fir, geranium, orange, cloves). It should be generously applied to a cotton swab and placed in the closet. You can kill two birds with one stone: moths will definitely not appear near this smell, and things will acquire a pleasant aroma.
You can make pillows with dried lavender bouquets, geraniums and put them next to your clothes.
Even before the advent of chemicals, naphthalene was widely used to combat moths. It's a pity that it only works on adults. In addition, its vapor can cause the development of cancer.
Moths also do not like the smell of garlic, tobacco, or kerosene. Prepare small fabric bags, place these components there and leave them on the cabinet shelves. By the way, garlic can also be used in the kitchen, just put it in cereals.
Some indoor plants can help in the fight., for example, fragrant geranium or coleus. There is no need to store the flowerpot in the closet, just put the leaves of the plants there.

Stories from our readers!
“We spend the whole summer at the dacha, there are a lot of mosquitoes, flies and midges. It is impossible for either adults or children to be in the house, much less on the street. We purchased a lamp-trap on the advice of our neighbors.

We have been using the lamp for more than a month. We have forgotten about flying insects and are often outdoors in the evenings. We are very pleased with the result. I recommend to everyone."

How to quickly remove moth larvae?

As mentioned above, moths cannot tolerate sub-zero temperatures. Things can be wrapped in a bag and kept in the freezer for about half an hour. Then you need to warm it to room temperature and freeze it again. Repeat the steps at least 5 times. If you find larvae, shake them out the window and hang your clothes on the balcony to ventilate and bask in the sun.

Prevention of occurrence

To prevent moths from delighting you with their visit, you should take basic precautions:

Keep only clean woolen clothes in your closet.
Keep fur items in covers; you can also wrap them in paper treated with an anti-moth agent.
Treat fur coats and coats with pest control products.
Don’t forget about general cleaning of cabinets; shelves can be wiped with a vinegar solution (3 tablespoons vinegar, 1 liter water). Be sure to ventilate the closet afterwards.
Thoroughly wash baseboards (especially in dark places), chandeliers, and window corners.
Ventilate the apartment and wet clean the room more often.
Remember to vacuum your upholstered furniture more than twice a month. If the furniture is unfolding, use a damp cloth to wipe it from the inside.
Throw away old and unnecessary things.
Store cereals in separate, tightly sealed containers.
Cheap cereals are not of high quality and contain a lot of dust, which is fertile ground for moths. Buy cereals only from a trusted manufacturer.
Woolen and fur items can be wrapped in newspapers; insects simply cannot stand their smell.
Before you hide things in a sofa or closet for a long time, pack them well.
If there are curled carpets in the house, periodically vacuum them, as a lot of moths often accumulate there.
Air out winter items in the sun every month.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can not only get rid of harmful insects, but also prevent them from appearing in your home.

Let’s briefly structure all of the above:

These harmful insects do not like cleanliness and order.
Sunlight and fresh air are their worst enemies.
The emphasis should be on killing larvae and caterpillars rather than killing adults. The caterpillars are distinguished by a black head and do not exceed 1 centimeter in size.
Dark places in the apartment should be treated most carefully.
Chemical remedies are much stronger and more effective than traditional methods.
From time to time, monitor old things and accumulated trash, and if possible, get rid of unnecessary things.

Now you know about the types of moths, what each species eats and how to fight them. A clean house and general cleaning of the premises are the main weapons in the fight against pests.

The moth feeds on the horny substance contained in fur and wool products, which is why it is called a keratophagous insect. It only takes one little larvae one day to chew a hole in your favorite sweater! However, this insect does not disdain organic matter, so the question of how to deal with moths in an apartment is always very relevant.

Types of house moths

Depending on taste preferences, moths come in several types:

1. Kitchen:

Granary - settles in nuts;

Flour - prefers flour;

Potato - found in potatoes;

This is what an adult potato moth looks like and its larvae, which settle in potatoes and feed on its pulp

Cereal - lives in cereals;

Fruity – loves dried fruits.

2. Room:

The dress butterfly is a butterfly up to 22 mm long with light yellow wings, violet-brown at the base. It feeds on wool, which is present in outerwear, upholstery, carpets, sweaters, suits, etc. It is also attracted to pet hair and textiles contaminated with sweat, food and urine. The caterpillar-like larvae hide in folds of tissue. Clutches of eggs are located on the inside of clothing. The hatched larvae gradually gnaw through the tissue, leaving only the thin top layer intact;

The fur butterfly is a small yellow butterfly with a slight shine and a wingspan of up to 1.5 cm. The larvae have white translucent skin, which makes them look like worms. The fur moth chooses felt, wool, fluff, fur, felt and feathers. She is very voracious - she gnaws holes in everything she comes across on the way, regardless of whether it is suitable for food. It is very easy to notice traces of the vital activity of this moth - the fur coat begins to shed, and lint of fur literally falls out of it. Adult females have the ability to reproduce very quickly;

Furniture butterfly - is a small (only 1 cm) light yellow butterfly with brown wings at the base. It often lives in the upholstery of upholstered furniture, eats both natural and synthetic fabrics, so it is very difficult to fight it. Eggs are laid in crevices of wood, in the bottom of upholstered furniture and in the back of upholstery. First, the larvae eat textiles and the inner filling of a sofa or chair. Then they get to the wood, gnawing entire passages running parallel to the pattern;

Carpet is one of the most resistant types of these pests. Its larvae are omnivores - they eagerly eat fur on fur coats and collars, skin on shoes, jackets, bags and coats, as well as floor coverings. Carpet moths lay eggs deep in the pile and other hard-to-reach areas. She is not afraid of the smell of camphor and naphthalene, so preparations containing these agents are absolutely useless.

Interesting! Adult moths do not have a mouth, so they do not need to feed. Only the larvae cause harm. Butterflies live no more than a week, but even in such a short period of time they are able to lay about 150 eggs. Under good conditions (poor ventilation, high humidity and heat), the reproduction of these pests occurs almost continuously.

First measures

If you find a gray butterfly in your apartment, don’t waste time - get down to business right away. This will prevent moths from breeding and ultimately ruining things or food supplies:

Inspect the room for a moth nest. It needs to be eliminated and the area vacuumed or washed with warm water;

Shake clothes and bedding to remove any hidden insects. You can use a clothes brush, carefully brushing all pockets, folds, and seams with it;

Place everything that is possible in a cold place for a day, warm it up in the sun, wash it at high temperatures or take it to the dry cleaner;
Do some general cleaning. The contents of the bag from the vacuum cleaner should be shaken out as far as possible from the house.

How to get rid of moths - folk recipe

How to repel moths with folk remedies? We offer an overview of the most reliable and time-tested recipes that will solve the problem without harming your own health.

Naphthalene

For a long time this remedy was considered one of the best, but in recent years its popularity has decreased significantly. The reason for this was the large-scale use of naphthalene, which led to the development of resistance (addiction) in most populations. In addition, it turned out that the drug is harmful to human health, as it is carcinogenic and provokes the development of malignant tumors.

Strong-smelling spices and plants

Moths, like most insects, do not tolerate strong aromas, so mint, tansy, tobacco, geranium, chestnuts, eucalyptus, cloves, walnut twigs and lavender can be used to combat them. Tobacco is collected during the flowering period, tied into bouquets and laid out on window sills and on cabinet shelves. You can also use dry tobacco leaf. Fabric bags are filled with it and hung in places where pests appear. It is good to grow a pot of geranium in the kitchen - it will protect your home from attacks by kitchen moths. Chestnuts can only be laid out in rooms and cabinets that are well ventilated. Otherwise, they will quickly become moldy.

In addition to plants, most well-known spices also have a pungent odor - allspice, cloves, vanilla, etc. To repel the pest for a long time, pour the spices into bags and place them in the apartment.

Strong scented soap

Another effective remedy for moths, which housewives have been using since ancient times. Soap (laundry or toilet) is placed in the pockets of outerwear, as well as between things on the shelves. A pleasant amber and protection from pests is guaranteed!

Essential oils

A traditional remedy for controlling indoor insects. Feel free to use esters of lavender, eucalyptus, mint, orange, tangerine, rosemary and geranium. They will protect your home and add fragrance to your linen and outerwear. It is enough to apply a few drops of ether on a cloth or paper napkin and place them in the apartment - where moths like to be.

Citrus

All citrus fruits have a very strong odor, which is an excellent pest repellent. Place fresh orange, tangerine, lemon or grapefruit peels on the shelves of your wardrobes and kitchen cabinets. Replace them as they dry out.

Lemon or orange zest, placed in cupboards, will help repel moths and drive them out of your home.

Natural remedies only repel moths, not kill them. In case of mass infection, they are unlikely to help you - in this case, you should give preference to chemical insecticides.

Watch more folk remedies (video):

Fly traps

If moths have flown into your home and you can't catch them, hang several sticky fly traps around the room. After some time, the butterfly will definitely stick to it.

Chemical agents against moths

Fighting moths at home cannot do without the use of chemical insecticides. They are represented by sprays and aerosols. Among the most effective are:

Dichlorvos - only cabinets can be sprayed with it;
Armol - acts on all surfaces (textiles, furniture, wood). To treat a small apartment, one can is enough;
Clean house - it should not be sprayed on clothes;
Raptor is an excellent fast-acting drug that allows you to destroy the entire population of insects as quickly as possible. Thanks to a special formula, the aerosol enters the moth's body through chitinous membranes and the respiratory tract. This aerosol is non-toxic and has no unpleasant odor. It is suitable for processing clothing and wardrobe or upholstered furniture. The main thing is not to use it in the kitchen;
Antimol is a universal remedy;
Morimol, Foxid, Mittox, Supromit are insecticidal solutions that are used to protect carpets and upholstered furniture.

Aerosols sprayed in a room or closet kill not only adults, but also larvae. The drugs are easy to use, affordable and do not require additional preparation. It is necessary to close all windows, wait several hours, and then thoroughly wash and ventilate the room. Clothes and other textiles should be machine washed. Not only things are subject to processing, but also the wardrobe in which they are stored, as well as carpets and furniture upholstery.

When using sprays, strictly follow the instructions - this will allow you to quickly get rid of kitchen and indoor moths.

Fumigators against moths

Fumigators are simple and long-term means of controlling house moths. Plug in the device and let it do its job, the principle of which is to heat a plate with insecticide and evaporate chemical components into the air. In some models, the plates are replaced with a special liquid - both options work equally well. The most famous fumigators are Raid, DiK-3 and Mosquitall.

The fumigator is small in size - approximately 95*60*50 mm. The affected area covers up to 30 square meters. m. The device can be placed in any cabinet - an extension cord will help you with this.

Attention! Fumigators have a delayed effect - they do not work immediately, but within 3-14 days. This small drawback is compensated by a lower degree of toxicity than, for example, aerosols.

Moth traps

For those who prefer effective and safe methods of killing moths, we recommend using Swissinno traps. These devices do not contain chemical insecticides, so there can be no question of harm to health. The trap looks like a house with sticky walls. Attracted by the delicious smell coming from inside, the butterfly flies inside and sticks to the walls. The design is designed so that an insect can easily find the entrance - it is open on all 4 sides. Using the house is very simple - you just need to glue the device to a degreased surface.

Moth sections

Home methods for moth control include the use of special sections. They are produced by Raptor and Mosquitall. They have a preventive effect and are designed to repel pests. Sections are attached or suspended plates with different scents - lavender, chamomile, tangerine, etc. The effect of two pieces covers 1⁄2 square meters. m. cabinet area. They need to be changed once every 4 months.

Advice! Insecticidal aerosols, fumigators and sections should be stored separately from food and away from children.

How to remove kitchen moths?

You need to get rid of kitchen moths immediately, otherwise they will ruin all your food supplies. To do this you need:

Conduct an audit of the stocks of cereals, sugar, flour, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Gray plaque, cobwebs and sticky lumps indicate that pests have already been here. Food damaged by larvae will have to be thrown away. Calcine the rest in a hot oven for 20 minutes;

Wash cabinets, shelves and other places where food supplies are stored with washing gel and treat with sprays or fumigators;
Place garlic cloves, citrus peels, lavender sprigs, bay leaves and other fragrant herbs on all shelves.

Prevention

You know how to deal with house moths, but do you know how to prevent re-infestation? Prevention measures will help you with this:

All items in lockers should be clean, especially those that are put aside until next season;
Periodically wipe the interior surfaces of cabinets and wardrobes, treat them with disinfectants or vinegar solution;

Ventilate the house regularly and clean it;
Approximately once a month, clean carpets and upholstery with water and disinfectant;
Fur and wool products must be wrapped in clean plastic bags or newspapers (moths cannot stand the aroma of printing ink), and fur coats must be placed in thick paper covers. It wouldn’t hurt to spray them with an anti-moth preparation;
Carpets, blankets, rugs, pillows, etc. should be taken outside at least 2 times a year for airing and beating;
Winter shoes sent for storage also need to be prepared. To do this, remove the insoles, wash them well and dry them completely. Place tobacco, lavender or ether-soaked napkins in the shoes themselves.

People have been fighting moths for a very long time, but neither high-tech means nor advances in the chemical industry can help get rid of them completely. The reason for such vitality lies in the diversity of moth species and the need to take into account the characteristics of each of them when fighting.

In other words, depending on the habitat and food consumed, the methods of combating moths differ.

Fighting indoor types of moths – clothes moths, fur moths, furniture moths

The greatest financial damage and psychological discomfort is caused by indoor moths, which must be combated comprehensively and especially carefully. This general name refers to several different types of insects: clothes insects, fur insects, furniture insects. These butterflies come in different shades of yellow and live in the folds of clothing and the joints of furniture.

Omnivorous - feeds on wool, silk and plant foods. In other words, clothes moths can feed on carpets, rugs, furniture upholstery, grain, cereals, flour, and bread.

The fur moth prefers fur, wool, felt, felt, and can also feed on feathers and down.

On a note

Almost all the moths that can be seen flying around the apartment are completely harmless males. They do not have mouthparts, meaning they do not feed and cannot cause harm. The main danger is represented by animals that eat away clothing and furniture, as well as females that lay eggs.

Moths can be controlled using preventive and elimination measures. Preventive measures to combat moths in an apartment are aimed at preventing the very possibility of moths appearing, while elimination measures are designed to get rid of existing insects.

Elimination measures to combat house moths include the following:

shaking out clothes and subsequent mechanical destruction of falling larvae
warming clothes in the sun on hot days
washing at temperatures above 40-45°C
treating clothing with aerosol insecticides.

Preventive control of moths in the house includes ventilating in the fresh air and drying things in the sun, storing clothes only in a clean condition, periodically cleaning and washing furniture, including with disinfectants.

On a note

One of the oldest and most effective against it is naphthalene, but its effectiveness is somewhat exaggerated. Mothballs do repel adult moths, but they are completely useless against larvae. At the same time, it is considered a carcinogen and can be more dangerous to human health than moths are to the sanitation of an apartment.

It is always better to prevent the appearance of moths in an apartment than to fight it later.

You can fight moths that already exist in the house not only by mechanical cleaning and washing, but also by using chemicals. Conventionally, they can be divided into contact and fumigation.

Contact agents are insecticidal solutions or aerosols that must be applied to the affected surface. Moth caterpillars, eating and even simply crawling on things treated in this way, will soon die.

Fumigation means to combat moths are tablets and plates that are placed in places where moths may live. Slowly evaporating, they also kill pests.

“I never thought that moths are such a tenacious insect and so difficult to fight! It seems like I've reviewed everything, washed it and aired it out - they still appear periodically from somewhere. I bought special records, but they don’t seem to work. Now they advised me to use a spray can of Armol, but I’m afraid it might not be poisonous.”

Kristina, Nikolaev

Currently, there are many drugs for moths and to combat them. Aerosols Raptor “Moth Protection”, Mosquitall (Moskitol) and “Armol Expert” are effective against both butterflies and moth larvae.

“Morimol”, “Mittox”, “Supromit”, “Foxide” - solutions for protecting upholstered furniture and carpets. “Antimol” and “Dezmol” are plates against moths.

Kitchen moths and ways to get rid of them

Many people believe that moths are found only in living rooms, but fighting moths in the kitchen is no less grueling. The grain has a silvery-white color and lives in cereals - wheat, rye, barley, etc. In addition, it can also spoil dried fruits and berries, nuts and seeds.

Unlike house moths, it is impossible to fight food moths by simply spraying food with chemicals (after all, then the poison will get into the food, which is unacceptable). That is why the fight against moths in food is often protracted and requires the complete elimination of stocks of contaminated food.

You need to start fighting cereal moths with an inventory of products. Sticky lumps of grains, gray coating and cobwebs indicate that the moth has already been here. You can get rid of the larvae by thoroughly heating the cereal in the oven or leaving it in the freezer for several days, but it is still better to throw away the spoiled product.

It is better to fight moths in the kitchen according to plan. Kitchen furniture should be washed with soapy water, wiped with table vinegar and ventilated well. Simply throw away any contaminated products. And in the future, pay attention to the quality and volume of purchased food, do not let the products “stagnate”

“For a month while the house stood empty, . And how to fight this infection? Caterpillars crawl in the corners, butterflies fly under the ceiling, and there they have love. Without thinking twice, I did some general cleaning and threw out everything that was left of the food. I wiped the furniture with vinegar just in case. And unexpectedly it worked! I didn’t think that folk recipes would help so much.”

Oksana, Murom

Methods for controlling potato moth

One of the most dangerous pests of potatoes is the potato moth, control measures against which must be carried out both during the cultivation of potatoes and during their storage. The potato moth is a small gray-brown insect whose larvae gnaw through winding black passages inside the tubers.

Potato moth needs to be combated comprehensively and systematically:

plant only healthy tubers at the maximum permissible depth, after warming them up;
periodically hill up and warm up the plantings;
mow and destroy the tops in advance;
Treat the harvested potatoes with special agents (Dendrobacillin, Entobacterin, Lepidocide) and store at a temperature of 3-5°C.

As you can see, methods of combating potato moth include both agrotechnical and chemical measures.

How to get rid of tomato moth

The tomato moth, which attacks tomato, eggplant, potato, and pepper crops, is similar in appearance to the potato moth. It is an exceptionally prolific insect with high adaptability.

Measures to combat tomato moth:

insulation and disinfection of greenhouses
regular weed control in open fields;
the use of special traps as indicators of the appearance of tomato moths;
burning of tops;
the use of biological products (Boverin, Baciturin), and, if necessary, chemicals, for example, Aktara, Aktellik, Fufanon.

Chestnut leaf miner

This is interesting

The caterpillar of the chestnut moth gnaws winding passages - mines - in the leaves of the tree. As it develops, it molts, leaving a round dark spot at the molting site. Before turning into an adult insect, it can destroy up to 90% of the leaves of a tree!

Apple moth

Apple moth is an extremely dangerous pest of fruit trees, and not only apple trees. Apricots, plums, pears, cherries and other trees also suffer from it.

The apple moth butterfly is light gray, almost white, with numerous white spots on the wings, the caterpillar is greenish with two rows of black dots. It is the caterpillars that weave webs around the leaves of trees and completely destroy the foliage on individual branches. If the damage is severe, a small tree may be left without any vegetative parts.

You should start fighting this fruit moth early:

Before the flowering period, spray the trees with an insecticide.
Hang pheromone traps around the garden to control the presence and number of apple moths.
Collect and destroy infected leaves in a timely manner.
Attract natural enemies of apple moths – braconid wasps – to gardens.
If necessary, use additional chemicals.

“Last year we were late in treating the trees in the garden. They seemed to know about the apple moth and how to fight it, but they missed the moment, and the harvest turned out to be small and damaged. But in this case they used fungicide and hung traps, so here and there there were local cobwebs, but they could easily be collected by hand or with equipment!”

Stepan Nikolaevich, Kherson

Each type of moth has its own specific qualities and leads a unique lifestyle. It is not surprising that measures that are effective, for example, in the fight against fur moths, will not give the expected result against furniture moths. Therefore, each type requires its own approach and a competent combination of methods and drugs.

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “moth” is a butterfly that often lives in poorly ventilated closets, damaging clothes and other textile products. However, there is also a plant pest moth, which is no less dangerous and causes enormous damage to garden plantings. This article is devoted to how to fight moths in the garden and how to protect plantings from the invasion of these pests.

How to deal with bud and rowan moths

Fruit crops such as currants and gooseberries are damaged by caterpillars bud moth. In the spring, after wintering, they begin to feed on kidney tissue.

Damaged buds look like they are burned and dry out. In addition, after the leaves bloom, damaged shoots are noticeable.

To protect plants from moths, pruning and burning of affected shoots and collecting fallen leaves and cocoons should be carried out. Spraying plants with a decoction of tobacco grass helps in the fight against caterpillars.

How to deal with topside moths on an apple tree

This pest is a small butterfly that damages the leaves of all fruit trees, especially apple trees. The moth caterpillar overwinters under fallen leaves, in cracks in the bark. In spring, the moth can lay up to 30 eggs on the upper side of budding leaves. Caterpillars eat away passages in the pulp of the leaf without damaging the skin of the leaf blade. Their pupation takes place in cobweb cocoons on the underside of the leaf. In this case, the sheet contracts and bends.

To combat top-sided fruit moths, it is necessary to collect and destroy colonies of caterpillars along with web nests. In the fall, you should rake fallen leaves and dig up the soil around the trees, clean the bark of moss and dead particles, and whiten the trunks.

How to deal with moths on an apple tree when a large number of pests invade? It is recommended to spray trees with insecticides before flowering, but most drugs are only effective against young caterpillars.

When working with the sprayer, the liquid stream should be directed towards the underside of the leaves.

The distance between the sprayer tip and the surface to be treated must be at least 0.5 m. It is better not to hold the jet in one place, otherwise the liquid will begin to drain.

Protection against grape moth

This pest is a butterfly with a wingspan of 4 mm. Its forewings are brown with white spots. The hind wings are dark brown. The fringe of the wings is long, gray-white. The antennae are thread-like. Caterpillar 3 mm long, yellow. The pupa is 2.5 mm in size, light yellow.

Overwintering of caterpillars that have completed feeding takes place under loose bark. In April, pupation occurs, and after 10-12 days the butterflies fly out, their lifespan is about a week, so soon after emergence they mate, the females begin to lay eggs, placing them on the veins of the leaves.

The revival of caterpillars occurs after 5-7 days. Then they begin to feed, gnawing into the middle of the leaf and making round holes with a diameter of 1.5-2 mm. After the development of the caterpillar is completed, the second generation butterflies fly out in 8-10 days.

The mass flight of the first generation is observed in June, the second - in July, the third - in September. If the damage is significant, the leaves will fall off. The caterpillars of the last generation, after finishing feeding, move to wintering areas.

To protect against grape moths, it is recommended to strip the dead bark and burn it.

How to deal with cherry shoot moth

This pest is a small brown butterfly with a wingspan of 1 cm.

Cherry moth caterpillars are up to 6 mm long, greenish-yellow. Cherry shoot moth damages and destroys buds, flowers and leaves of cherries and cherries.

The caterpillars overwinter in cracks in the bark, near the fruit buds of the tree. They come out during the swelling of the buds and bite into them, which leads to further drying of the buds. Then the caterpillars move on to young leaves and buds, gnawing them and leaving behind a thin web with excrement.

Cherry shoot moth caterpillars can penetrate young shoots, causing them to dry out.

At the end of flowering of cherries and sweet cherries, the caterpillars move to the upper layers of the soil around the trunk, where they pupate. During this period, it is recommended to loosen and dig the soil under the trees.

In July, butterflies appear and begin to lay eggs.

Symptoms of cherry moth damage to a plant are often confused with signs of a tree freezing.

To prepare it, you need to pour 600 g of dry yarrow herb into 8 liters of water, boil for 30-40 minutes, then cool, strain, add 2 liters of water, let it brew for 2 days. Before use, dissolve 40 g of soap in the broth.

How to get rid of ermine fruit moth

This pest is a butterfly with a wingspan of 18-22 mm. The forewings are white with black spots. The hind wings are gray. The egg is 0.3 mm in size, yellowish, round. Caterpillar 14-16 mm long, yellow-gray. The pupa is 8-11 mm long, dark yellow, and its head is black. The cocoon is thin and white.

Ermine fruit moth damages plum, cherry plum, apricot, cherry, sweet cherry, rowan, apple tree.

The caterpillars overwinter under the shield. At the end of April, they emerge from under it and immediately begin to weave web nests, connecting leaves in pairs. Their development continues for 1-1.5 months.

Pupation into spider nests occurs separately from each other. After 8-10 days (late May - early June) butterflies appear. Their years last until mid-August. 2 weeks after emergence, the butterflies begin to mate, after which on the 5-6th day they begin laying eggs. The female lays 15-40 eggs on the smooth bark of thin branches and fills them with mucus, which quickly hardens in the air.

After 8-15 days, the caterpillars are revived, which then remain under a moisture-proof shield until the spring of next year. In spring, caterpillars begin to damage leaves and entwine tree branches with thick webs. With significant damage, the quantity and quality of the harvest decreases, the growth of shoots decreases, and the process of formation of fruit buds is disrupted.

To combat ermine fruit moth, it is recommended to spray trees with a decoction of marigolds and wormwood. To prepare it, you need to pour 200 g of dried crushed marigold herb into 5 liters of water and boil for 1 hour. Then pour 5 liters of water into 200 g of dry crushed wormwood herb and boil for 20 minutes. Cool the marigold and wormwood decoctions, mix, strain, add 2.5 liters of cold water. Carry out the treatment 2-3 times during plant budding.

How to fight onion moths

This pest is a small butterfly, the wingspan of which does not exceed 1.5 cm. Its front wings are brown with white spots, the hind wings are light gray with long fibers. Caterpillars are up to 1 cm long, green, with short hairs. The caterpillars' heads are brownish.

The butterfly season begins in May. At the same time, they lay eggs on the lower surface of the leaf, and sometimes on the soil near the onion plants.

A week later, caterpillars appear and begin to bite into the pulp of the leaf without damaging its skin. Paths are formed that are clearly visible on the leaves.

After 15 days, the caterpillars leave the leaves and pupate; after another 20 days, the new generation of moths emerge.

Onion moth affects, and. Damaged leaves begin to turn yellow, then dry out and die. There is a decrease in yield.

An effective way to fight onion moths is to spray plants with an infusion of garlic and calendula seeds. To prepare it, you need to mix 4 cups of calendula seeds and 100 g of garlic minced through a meat grinder. Pour 10 liters of boiling water over the resulting mixture and leave for 3 hours.

Spraying should be carried out every other day in the evening. Treatment should be stopped 30 days before harvest.