Moth Management

Moths are most definitely the curse of the rug owner. They can devastate a rug if left unchecked to do their worst. We should look at what is the ideal meal for the moth to understand how to counter them best. They love a rug left in the dark and undisturbed, even better if it is dirty and damp as they obtain their fluids from the things they eat. The problem of course is not the moth but the larvae that grow from the eggs they deposit.

I think the first lesson is to be able to identify the eggs. It is very important to inspect your rugs regularly and to see eggs it is a case of getting close and casting your eye on the back and front, taking time to check each square inch. I think this can be done in less than a minute so don’t see it as an arduous task. Moth eggs appear as small white specks, like a tiny piece of cotton. However when picked at they might stretch or roll up and then finally disappear to nothing whereas cotton or other specks remain when agitated. Don’t panic if you do see them, it is not unusual from a rug bought at auction or antique shop where they don’t understand the rules. Eggs are not the problem, they can and should be removed by scratching them out but you should also follow this up with a deep clean and possibly treatment. There are a number of moth killing sprays and washes available but note these are not nice chemicals and a good wash followed up with sound management is probably enough.

The sighting of larvae however does announce the time to press the panic button. If you have a freezer that can reach -20 then placing them in there for a couple of weeks should be effective followed up with a good clean and again possibly spraying with an insecticide. There are also companies that offer heat treatment that will also kill larvae.
I think a good regime of inspection and hoovering on the back and front is a good enough approach to provide a moth free world. If they are out in the light and being used then it is less likely they will be affected. .
I have been through many waves of moth fear and it does require management if you have a lot of rugs in your collection. The answer is to be vigilant and carry out the basics, understand that it is inevitable that the moths will find you and when they do then it is important to know that you can fix it with a little attention, a strong hoover and a little detergent. Moths don’t like any intrusion , they look for the dark, the damp and the dirty rug and if you can avoid these as a principle you are halfway there.

Evidence of moth damage is quite obvious, areas where the pile suddenly steps down to the foundation often with meandering lines where the larva has eaten it’s way across the rug. Generally you will also see the cocoons where the larva have hatched and begun their cycle again. They are about 6-10mm long and seem to be stuck into the rug’s surface.
This isn’t a sign that you necessarily have a problem now, they may be historic but the rug needs to go on the red list and requires attention.

In summary, pay attention to your rugs. Understand the life cycle of the moth and it’s seasons, try and remain calm knowing that a little care can solve most problems. Don’t have holidays from your rug care. If you can hoover them back and front once a month then the moth and its larvae aren’t going to find life easy. There are plenty of rolled up rugs in dark houses they would prefer to eat.