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Quick answer: Clothes moths are small (6–8 mm), golden-buff to tan moths that avoid light and flutter weakly in closets and dark corners rather than around lamps. The damage is done by the cream-white larvae (tiny caterpillars), which eat natural fibers — wool, cashmere, silk, fur, and felt — leaving irregular holes and fine silken webbing or cases. They’re often confused with pantry moths and carpet beetles.
What clothes moths look like
The adult moth is small, narrow, and a uniform buff/golden color, with fringed wing edges. Unlike pantry moths (which fly around the kitchen and lights), clothes moths shun light and prefer undisturbed closets, drawers, and storage. You’re more likely to see the larvae and their damage than the adults: small white caterpillars, silken tubes or cases, and grain-like droppings on affected items.
Two kinds you might find
- Webbing clothes moth: the most common — larvae spin patches of silk webbing on the fabric they’re eating.
- Casemaking clothes moth: larvae carry a small portable case as they feed, leaving the case behind.
The damage they cause
Larvae chew irregular holes in stored woolens, suits, blankets, rugs, and upholstery, often in hidden spots — under collars, in folds, along seams, and in areas with body oils or food stains they’re drawn to. Damage tends to be concentrated where items sit undisturbed for months.
Clothes moths vs. carpet beetles vs. pantry moths
All three damage different things. Carpet beetles (fuzzy larvae) also eat fabrics — see carpet beetles — but leave bristly shed skins rather than webbing. Pantry moths infest food, not clothing — see bugs in your flour and cereal. Clothes moths specifically target natural-fiber clothing and textiles.
How to control them
Clean before storing (larvae love soiled spots), launder or dry-clean affected items, run them through a hot dryer or freeze them, vacuum closets and drawers thoroughly, and store woolens in sealed containers or garment bags. For an established infestation across a wardrobe, professional treatment of the harborage areas helps stop the cycle.
Holes in your woolens or webbing in the closet? New York Exterminating can confirm the pest and treat the source with a low-exposure plan, led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). Call (347) 210-4646 or request a free assessment.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Clothes Moths — FAQ
What do clothes moths look like?
Small (6–8 mm), buff/golden moths that avoid light and hide in closets. The cream-white larvae do the damage to natural fibers.
How are clothes moths different from pantry moths?
Clothes moths eat fabrics and avoid light; pantry moths infest food and fly around the kitchen and lamps.
What do clothes moth larvae eat?
Natural fibers — wool, cashmere, silk, fur, and felt — especially items that are soiled or stored undisturbed.
How do I get rid of clothes moths?
Launder or dry-clean, heat or freeze affected items, vacuum closets, and store woolens sealed. Heavier infestations benefit from professional treatment.
