Moth Control in Utah
There are thousands of species of moths. However, there are only a few that you’ll usually encounter in Utah households. There are two different kinds of moths that we often see in Salt Lake and Utah County: moths in closets, or moths in the pantry. The pantry-dweller is known as the Indian mealmoth, also called a grain moth, weevil moth, or pantry moth.Closet Moths
Moths are attracted to natural fibers, like wool or silk. Closet moths like dark, undisturbed places and are very secretive. If you do catch a glimpse of these moths, you’ll notice that they’re buff-colored, and usually 2-5 cm in length. Moths depend on their sense of smell for most of the major functions in life. They use it to identify food sources, mates, and communicate about territories or safety. That’s why one of the best ways to keep moths away is with certain scents. We can help with pheromone treatments that will discourage moths from entering your home.
PREVENTING A MOTH INFESTATION IN YOUR CLOSET
In order to prevent a moth infestation, there are some measures that you can take. Even with pest control treatment, these are smart moves to make sure that the population doesn’t make a comeback.
- Wash clothing before storing them. This will remove any eggs or larvae (often too small for you to spot with the naked eye) from the clothing. It will also remove human scents from sweat, hair, and skin that can attract moths.
- Store your clothing in airtight containers instead of cardboard boxes when you need to stow them for a long period of time.
- Use cedar wood in your closet, either in the form of the closet itself, cedar hangers, or cedar mothballs. The oil in cedar is toxic to moth larvae and so it will repel moth populations. You can also use lavender (oil, or simply dried sprigs of the flowers) in your closet to keep moths away.