Moths in your house are almost certainly eating one of two things: your clothes or your food. The adults fluttering around aren’t the ones doing damage. It’s their larvae, the small caterpillar-stage offspring, that feed on household materials. The two most common culprits are clothes moths and pantry moths (Indian meal moths), and each targets completely different items.
Clothes Moth Larvae Eat Animal-Based Fibers
Clothes moth larvae can digest keratin, a protein found in animal hair, skin, and feathers. This makes wool, silk, fur, leather, and feathers their primary food sources. They’ll also feed on upholstered furniture stuffed with animal-based materials, as well as items made from bristles, dried hair, or fish meal. In nature, these larvae survive on pollen, dead insects, and dried animal remains, so your wool sweater is simply a convenient version of what they’d eat outdoors.
Cotton and synthetic fabrics like polyester and rayon are rarely attacked on their own. The exception: blended fabrics that mix synthetics with wool, or clothing heavily soiled with food stains and body oils. The oils and food residue give larvae something to feed on even when the base fabric isn’t digestible. This is why a clean polyester shirt is safe but a stained one stored for months could show damage.
Beyond your closet, clothes moth larvae will feed on lint, dust, paper, and even dried meat extracts or insect remains. Anywhere animal-based protein accumulates quietly, from a dusty corner with pet hair to a forgotten wool blanket in the attic, is a potential feeding ground.
Pantry Moths Target Dry Stored Foods
Indian meal moths, the most common pantry moth, lay eggs directly in or near food. Their larvae feed on a surprisingly wide range of dry goods: cereals, oatmeal, grains, flour, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, spices, dried herbs, powdered milk, chocolate, candy, biscuits, and dried soups. If it’s dry and sits in your pantry for weeks, it’s a potential target.
Pet food is just as vulnerable. Dried dog and cat food, bird seed, and flaked fish food are all common infestation sites. Even spilled baking materials like flour or sugar on a pantry shelf can sustain a population. The larvae spin fine silk webbing through infested food, which is often the first visible sign something is wrong. You might also notice small caterpillars crawling on the walls or ceiling near your kitchen as they leave the food source to pupate.
Adult Moths Don’t Actually Eat
The moths you see flying around your house have already done their damage, in a sense. Adult clothes moths have reduced mouthparts and don’t feed at all. Their sole purpose is to mate and lay eggs. This means the fluttering moth isn’t chewing holes in your sweater. It’s looking for a good place to lay eggs so its larvae can do that work. The same is true of adult pantry moths. Killing the visible adults helps, but the real problem is the larvae and eggs hidden in your food or fabrics.
How to Tell Which Type You Have
Location is the simplest clue. Moths near closets, drawers, or storage areas with wool, fur, or leather are likely clothes moths. They’re small, golden-tan, and tend to scurry rather than fly. Moths fluttering near the kitchen, pantry, or pet food storage are almost certainly Indian meal moths. These are slightly larger with distinctive copper-brown wingtips.
For clothes moths, check for irregular holes in wool or silk garments, especially items stored for long periods. You may find sandy-colored larvae or small silk tubes (casings) attached to fabric. For pantry moths, look for fine webbing in dry food, small larvae in cereal boxes or grain bags, and tiny moths resting on pantry walls.
Eliminating Clothes Moths
Laundering infested items in water at least 120°F for 20 to 30 minutes kills larvae and eggs. For delicate items that can’t be washed, seal them in a plastic bag and place them in a freezer for several days at temperatures below 18°F. Heat treatment also works: holding items at temperatures above 120°F for at least 30 minutes is effective.
Vacuum closets, drawers, and baseboards thoroughly to remove larvae, eggs, and the lint or hair they feed on. Pay special attention to corners, cracks, and areas under furniture where pet hair and dust collect undisturbed.
For long-term storage, wash or launder all garments before packing them away. If washing isn’t possible, freeze the items for 72 hours first to kill any hidden eggs or larvae. Moth-proof storage bags create a physical barrier. Airtight versions protect against moths, moisture, and mold, while breathable versions with durable zippers block moths while allowing airflow. A gap large enough to slide a piece of paper through is large enough for a moth to enter, so airtight seals matter.
Eliminating Pantry Moths
Start by inspecting every dry food item in your pantry, including spices, pet food, and items you might not suspect. Discard anything with webbing, larvae, or signs of contamination. Wipe down all shelves and vacuum cracks where spilled grains or flour could harbor eggs.
Transfer remaining dry goods into glass jars or hard plastic containers with airtight lids. Rubber-sealed lids are ideal. Plastic zipper bags work as a secondary option but aren’t as reliable for long-term storage. Keep your pantry clean going forward. Spilled grains, flour, or sugar attract moths to the area and give newly hatched larvae an easy food source.
Pantry moth infestations often start with a single contaminated product brought home from the store. Freezing new bags of flour, grains, or birdseed for a few days before transferring them to sealed containers can prevent an infestation from ever taking hold.