How do clothes moths damage clothing?

The larvae of the clothes moth (primarily Tineola bisselliella) — not the adults — are the culprits behind clothing damage.

Adult moths (small, buff-colored moths, wingspan about 12 mm) have degenerate mouthparts, do not feed, and their sole purpose is to mate and lay eggs.

The female moth lays 50–200 eggs on natural animal fibers (wool, silk, fur, feathers, cashmere).

The eggs hatch into white larvae in about 4–10 days — this is the damaging stage.

The larvae feed on keratin (the structural protein of animal hair and feathers), chewing small holes and creating patchy grazed areas on the fabric surface as they feed.

Larvae prefer soiled clothing — sweat stains, food spills, and body oil contamination provide the larvae with extra nutrients (B vitamins and salts), which is why "a wool sweater that was worn but not washed before being put back in the closet" is the clothes moth's favorite.

The larvae spin a silken cocoon, forming a flattened, envelope-like case (with chewed fiber debris incorporated into the outside), to pupate inside the seams, folds, and pockets of clothing.

Five key measures for preventing clothes moths: ① Store wool and silk garments only after dry-cleaning or washing in hot water above 60 °C (to kill any existing eggs and larvae); ② Store seasonal clothing in sealed garment bags or airtight plastic bins — adult clothes moths cannot enter sealed containers to lay eggs; ③ Use cedar blocks or dried lavender sachets in wardrobes (repellent effect, not insecticidal); ④ Regularly vacuum the corners of wardrobes and along carpet edges (the vacuum removes eggs and larvae); ⑤ Do not return worn wool garments directly to the wardrobe.