Common Clothes Moth

Natural Habitat

Indoors within residential or commercial buildings, specifically in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, and basements.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on natural fibers containing keratin, such as wool, silk, fur, feathers, and hair. Adults do not eat.

Behavior Patterns

They are photophobic (avoid light) and prefer dark corners. They are weak fliers and often scuttle across surfaces. The life cycle includes egg, larvae (which spin silk tubes), pupa, and adult.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Significant pest that can cause extensive damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets. They do not bite or transmit diseases to humans. Benefits: Negligible in human environments, though they help decompose animal matter in nature.

Identified on: 3/30/2026