Moths on the MUNCH? Put your woollies in the freezer!(Features)

Daily Mail (London) April 25, 2012 Byline: by David Derbyshire EVER since the first chilly caveman decided to drape a dead animal around his shoulders for warmth, mankind and the clothes moth have been inseparable. Moths chewed through the piles of furs stored in the corners of our caves, and munched through the silken dresses in medieval chests. They thrived in the closets of Tudor mansions and accompanied our soldiers to the trenches of World War I. here how to get rid of pimples overnight ^[11]

But never have they had it quite as good as the first few years of 21st century.

Pest controllers say the number of moth infestations has been on the rise in recent years, and that our modern, cosseted lifestyles are to blame.

Not only are our homes heated yearround, we have more clothes than any generation in history and the rigorous spring cleans that kept our grandparents' homes spotless are all but forgotten.

If you add into the mix a run of mostly mild winters, we couldn't have created a happier breeding ground for hungry clothes-eating moths if we'd tried.

The result is that moths have been out in numbers in the past few weeks. 'As soon as the weather warms up you see a burst of activity from clothes moths,' explains Kate Turner, of Rentokil.

And the fact is that, as we put away winter clothes and bring out summer ones at this time of year, we notice the moths more because we disturb them, and we can see the damage they have done to the clothes we get out of storage.

Of the 2,500 species of moth in Britain only two have a serious appetite for clothes -- the silvery-brown case-bearing clothes moth Tinea pellionella, and the common clothes moth Tineola bisselliella, which has an orange-red head and golden yellow wings.

The damage isn't done by the 1cm-long adult moths. They are too busy mating and producing eggs to bother with food. Females can lay 40 eggs over a three-week period before they die.

No. The problem comes from the ricelike larvae. They adore the dark, humid corners of our homes, don't like moving and will happily eat through blankets, clothes, carpets and rugs for the best part of a year before pupating into adults.

Moths will devour any natural fabrics, but have a particular liking for cashmere, silk, wool, feathers and sheepskin.

So why are they becoming more common? Certainly, central heating and milder winters over the past two decades are two reasons. But our slovenly habits are another.

Stuart Hine, entomologist at the Natural History Museum in London, says: 'The old-fashioned spring clean was a brilliant thing. Moths don't like disturbance, and when you fold and unfold blankets and clothes, and put the vacuum inside and under wardrobes, they don't like it.' MODERN clothes' hygiene also leaves something to be desired. Putting dirty clothes and blankets into wardrobes and cupboards provides moths with plenty to feast on.

Then there's the rise of cheap, High Street fashion. The typical British woman now has four times as many clothes in her wardrobe as she did in the Eighties. That's four times as much stuff for moth larvae to devour -- much of it left undisturbed for months at a time.

In addition, we tend to buy more from vintage clothes and charity shops in these austere times. The danger is that they bring moths with them.

And the fashion for wool insulation in new homes hasn't helped. Ecosavvy owners have discovered to their horror that their precious green insulation is the moths' ideal breeding and feeding ground.

Clothes moths are a nuisance -- but Mr Hine is eager to stress that we'd be lost without them. In the wild they devour the fur, feathers and waste of animals. And often people are keen to blame moths for holes in clothes caused by snags or carpet beetles, he says. 'We need their services outside. We would be up to our knees with dead vermin and feathers and old nests if we didn't have clothes moths.' HOW TO GET RID OF THEM WHEN it comes to clothes moths, prevention is better than treatment.The caterpillars and eggs are notoriously hard to eradicate, and infestations have the nasty habit of returning after a few months.

Turn down the heat TURN off or turn down radiators in spare rooms and as soon as you don't need them in the spring. Moths stop breeding when the temperatures drop. And open the windows to air your rooms. Moths love humidity.

Chuck out your unwanted clothes PILES of old jumpers that you'll never wear again, unfashionable coats that have seen better days and stacks of blankets are all favourite breeding grounds for moths.

Bag up the others STORE woollens and silks in plastic bags over the summer. 'It won't be 100 per cent prefect and larvae can crawl into seams, but it's pretty good prevention,' says Kate Turner, of Rentokil. 'Moth larvae are incredibly lazy and will rarely bother finding a way into bagged clothing.' Be careful when you buy second-hand PRE-OWNED clothes and furniture may well be infested. Have a good poke around any second-hand goods before you bring them into your home, vacuum furniture and wash clothes at 60c, if you can.

Spring clean OUR grandparents were right: cleaning inside wardrobes, under chests of drawers, under beds, and in every nook and crevice behind radiators will get rid of pests. But empty the vacuum cleaner bag straight away, or the moths will simply hatch inside and fly out.

Beat your rugs BRUSH and shake out clothes every few weeks in sunlight to dislodge any eggs and larvae. Give rugs a good beating every few months, and don't forget to vacuum furniture.

Don't store dirty clothes MOTHS adore the sweat and grime on clothes. Putting dirty clothes into the wardrobe is like leaving out crumbs and chocolate for mice and rats. Dr Mark Parsons, of Butterfly Conservation, says: 'If your clothes haven't been washed and put away, that helps attract the moths.' Try moth balls ...

OLD-FASHIONED camphor moth balls were effective -- but left your clothes stinking. The older varieties were made from flammable naphthalene; modern ones contain the safer but still toxic para-dichlorobezene.Not everyone will be happy wearing noxious chemicals next to their skin.

... or stink them out STRONG smells appear to deter moths, but there are less offensive alternatives to mothballs.

'Some people use cedar wood, or aromatic lavender or citrus smells to mask the scent that the moths pick up on,' says Stuart Hine.

'However, cedar woods scent dies down after a few months, which means you need to keep sanding off the outer layer.' Always use a hot wash TEMPERATURES above 60c will kill moths, eggs and their larvae. A hot wash followed by a hot tumble dry should do the trick. go to web site how to get rid of pimples overnight ^[12]

Chill out FOR delicate fabrics, silks and wools, place in a bag in the freezer for at least 12 hours to kill off any pests.

Suck them up ...

IF YOU uncover a breeding ground, don't panic. Moths are lazy and tend to stay close to the place they were hatched. Vacuum the area and brush down all clothes. Kate Turner says: 'Remove as many as you can using a stiff brush or vacuum. And scrape and sweep up the whole area.' ... or try chemical warfare USE a good household crawlinginsect spray in the infested area. Some pet flea-sprays contain an emulsion that sticks to surfaces, killing insects for days or weeks.

Many moth killers contain pesticides called pyrethoids. For serious infestations, there's an armoury of poisons in addition to the sprays. Moth smoke bombs or foggers release a cloud of noxious fumes that reach every crevice in the room.

The downside of these is that treated rooms have to be left for three to four hours, they can set off smoke alarms, have no residual effect once the fumes have cleared and kill any other insects in the room.

Less drastic chemical weapons include paper strips and 'hangicides' impregnated with insecticide which work inside wardrobes, can last up to six months and are effective against adults, eggs and larvae.

Trap the blighters UNLIKE moth balls, sticky traps for moths are odourless and will not contaminate your clothes with noxious chemicals. Moths are attracted to the scent on the traps, but get stuck to the glue and die. The traps remain deadly for three months, but usually need supplementary action.

And if all else fails ...

IF YOU'VE tried to de-moth and failed, call in an expert. They can heat treat a room, a piece of furniture or item of clothing to kill off moths. But be warned -- it can cost [pounds sterling]100 a room and you and your pets may have to move out for a couple of days.