Moth Extermination in Camarillo and Ventura County

Signs You Have a Moth Infestation

Moth populations typically explode in the summer, but like many other types of pests, a moth infestation can certainly develop during cooler months as well. Moth eggs can certainly and do survive in cooler and even sub-freezing temperatures. Many different types of moths will begin to tart hatching and invading your living space in the summer and fall months. Nevertheless, there are ways of preventing moth reserves from growing in the future.

How a Moth Infestation Begins

Some moth infestations start when female moths lay eggs onto stored grains and flour products. Once these pests find their way into your pantry or kitchen, it isn't too long—2-3 weeks—before the eggs hatch out, and larvae are on the loose, feeding and destroying grain-based products. They even feed on anything that contains grains, such as dog food, birdseed, and even books.

How a Moth Infestation Begins

Some moth infestations start when female moths lay eggs onto stored grains and flour products. Once these pests find their way into your pantry or kitchen, it isn't too long—two to three weeks—before the eggs hatch out, and the larvae are on the loose, feeding and destroying grain-based products. They even feed on anything that contains grains, such as dog food, birdseed, and even books.

Types of Moths That May Invade Your Home

Clothes Moths:

One of the two most common moth species in most homes in the United States. It's primarily the larval clothes moth lifecycle that causes most of the damage from this species, and more specifically, the larvae of the clothes moth. Clothe moths live longer than Indian meal moths, with adults living on average for one month and females up to three months in optimal conditions. The clothes moth larva, also known as a clothes moth caterpillar or simply a clothes moth worm, is the destructive stage that causes the most harm. Clothes moth larvae are mostly well-camouflaged, crawling for at least four weeks, chewing holes through the item where they lay their eggs, leaving behind silken threads.

Their most conspicuous item they damage is clothing and fabric, which after a single larvae has enjoyed a feast of two months will have created a one-inch round ball of little irregular holes. This usually occurs in hidden areas of clothing where the larvae can crawl, congregate and then eat.

Pantry Moths:

Indian meal moths aren’t capable of survival outdoors, so they like to nestle into the grains and flour of pantries in homes to stay warm. The larvae of these moths are reddish-brown with a black collar on the front part of their bodies. The adults, which are cream to yellowish moths, leave little distinctive, maggot-like larvae behind. A later larval stage, changes into a white or yellowish caste that spins a protective silken cocoon to undergo the vulnerable pupal stage where they metamorphosize into a flying moth. In about two weeks, you may just discover a mass of larvae behind the packaged seamed goods such as boxes of flour, pancake mix, pasta, rice, dry biscuits, and so on. Once the larvae have hatched, they can feed uninterrupted in your pantry for days on end as they grow from larva until they emerge as a full-grown adult Indian meal moth.

When a pantry moth infestation is not curtailed early, a nighttime invasion of flying silent moths will occur whenever your porch lights, outdoor barbeques, or patio turns on. Indian meal moths are a common hot-season problem when people are frequently going in and out of their pantry but restocking grains and flours. Although Indian meal moths only have a life cycle of a month, with females dying after they deposit eggs in 75from what they lay these eggs in can be any type of stored grain. Making it difficult to pin-point a moth infestation when it's still at the larval stage. Once these larvaehave metamorphosized, they cause no harm to stored grains. No insect poisons or food contaminants exist in the adult>

Best Eco-Friendly Moth Control Services in Southern California

Many people have experienced the frustration of a moth infestation in their home or business, and it can impact their quality of life, even causing outbreaks of a rash or hives. Our team can help you get rid of moths so you can enjoy peace of mind. At Ekoterra we are no stranger to dealing with moth infestations, and our licensed and certified technicians can make short work of any that have taken up residence in your living space. When we arrive at your home for your moth infestation assessment, you can count on us to determine the best and most effective procedure so that you can breathe easy once again.

We service the entire coastal areas, including Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Schedule an appointment by getting in touch with us at (805) 866-0648 today.

How to Get Rid of Moths By Yourself?

Knowing the most common moths is key to proper identification, which leads to faster removal. Two of the most frequent moths detected in homes are the pantry moth and the clothing moth. Knowing the difference is essential to understand prevention and treatment.

Pantry Moth Odor:

If you're unfortunate enough to experience an Indian meal moth infestation in your home pantry or cupboards, you'll notice the pantheon of Indian meal moths upon opening the door. A strong smelling odor will greet your nose. If you are especially unlucky and find some Indian meal moth larvae in your pantry, you'll then realize that your entire kitchen's air-quality may be compromised by their presence. You may at first think discovering indian-meal moth worms in your pantry is when you're actually noticing just the worms, but at a step before that, it's the Indian meal moth larvae odor unnoticeable by the human nose that is first detected. In this stage, you are first noticing Indian-meal moth worm larvae odor, and then later it leads to seeing small black worms on the floor or on shelves and walls of your pantry, after a week or so, assuming you're noticing and the problem as valid before an Indian moth infestation spirals out-of-control even more.

Indian Meal Moth Life Cycle:

Indian meal moths have a life cycle similar to many other types of household pests. The adult moth typically flies into a home and lays on average of about 1-2 eggs on exposed surfaces or food items. It prefers dark, moist locations with little to no airflow. Their favorite places to lay their eggs are on or near food, carpeting, clothing, and animal bedding, crates, and bags. But many other places as well can serve as a great home for their baby Indian meal moth growth. Such as cracks and crevices in around cabinets, cabinets, bookshelves, around fireplaces, in stored clothing, mattresses, carpets, spices, cloth, hair, furniture, drywall, even items stored in storage bins. It seems anything made up fabric or materials that can live in can serve as a great Indian meal moth nesting spot. It isn’t until you may find snacking in your vegetables, these could possibly be Indian meal moth larvae. There are lighter and darker versions of what these larvae look like, being that the older the Indian meal moth larvae is the more often it will look a little bit more like the Indian meal moth adult. If there is an Indian meal moth infestation by now then it's a good time to call in a professional pest control service that provides moth control.