Brown House Moth - Get 10 Tips for Effective Control here

Facts about the Brown House Moth

Occurrence: The brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) is less common than clothes moths and case-bearing clothes moth but as prevalent as the indian meal moth. It is generally more common in summer than in winter.

Diet: The brown house moth is particularly known for its tendency to infest textiles and is thus often categorized as a moth that attacks clothes and textiles. However, it can survive on almost any plant-based material and some animal materials. It is the larvae of the brown house moth that are the true pests, as they are the ones that consume these materials.

Prevention: Brown house moths can only thrive in sufficiently humid environments. Therefore, control and prevention involve reducing the moisture in the home and keeping textiles, food, and similar items dry and enclosed. Read more about prevention below.

Brown house moths can feed on many different organic materials

10 Tips for Controlling Brown House Moths

We have deliberately not included any chemical insecticides in our list below, as we advise against using these for moth control. You can read more about this in our article on the use of sprays against moths.

Storage: Clothing made from natural textiles (wool, fur, etc.) should be stored in sealed plastic or synthetic bags (e.g., polyethylene). This limits the moths’ access to the textiles, which automatically reduces their chances of survival. It is also recommended to store these sealed bags in tightly closed cabinets or drawers.
Moth repellents: Traditional remedies and modern pest control suggest that strong-smelling natural materials like lavender and cedarwood are highly effective against brown house moths. In recent years, it has been discovered that these scents can be combined with others, such as tea tree, peppermint, neem, and geranium, for optimal effect. Although moth sachets are usually only used against clothes moths (i.e., case-bearing clothes moths and clothes moths), they can also be somewhat effective against brown house moths. Additionally, Mediterranean flour moth traps are effective for preventing and controlling brown house moths and other food moths. We recommend the traps and sachets listed below:
Humidity: Since brown house moth larvae can only develop in humid environments, it is essential to ensure that they cannot thrive in the damp areas of the home. This includes removing all textiles from wet rooms, kitchens, utility rooms, basements, attics, etc., and minimizing moisture as much as possible in these areas. Similarly, food should be stored dry and sealed, so larvae cannot develop there. If brown house moths have been found in food, clean the cupboards with a vacuum cleaner and a dry cloth instead of water. Also, consider where the moths originate from; it could be the store, warehouse, manufacturer, neighbor, or your own home. Food moths should always be controlled at their source.
Kill adult moths: It sounds simple, but it is effective—always kill the brown house moths you encounter (using a fly swatter, newspaper, etc.). This automatically reduces the population in the home, which is an essential part of control.
Freezing in a freezer: Like other moths, brown house moths can be killed by freezing. In practice, this can be done by freezing clothes, carpets, etc., in a large freezer like a chest freezer. The textiles should remain there for 48 hours at -18°C (or colder).
Freezing outdoors: If it’s winter and freezing outside, you can also place your furniture, carpets, etc., outdoors overnight. During the day, bring the items inside and put them out again in the evening. Repeat the process for 3–4 nights. The temperature fluctuations between cold and warm will kill the moths, and the significant advantage of this method is that it also kills the larvae.
Bird nests: Since brown house moths are often found in bird nests, removing old bird nests near the home is advisable if moths are a recurring problem. Remember, bird nests can also be found in attics and basements. This is primarily an issue for homeowners with gardens and on farms.
Cleaning: Clean the home thoroughly, paying particular attention to vacuuming carpets (especially the edges, folds, seams, etc., where dirt collects). Also, empty all closets and drawers of clothes and other textiles and clean them. Moth sachets mentioned earlier can be helpful here. Don’t forget to ventilate the house well and generally ensure proper airflow.
Attics and basements: Remove all natural textiles from attics and basements. Typical examples include old clothes, curtains, carpets, duvets, or bedding. Ensure these areas are dry, as humidity significantly increases the risk of brown house moths.
Persistent problems: Recurring or persistent problems with brown house moths are typically due to difficulty eradicating their eggs. In practice, this can only be achieved with professional pest control services. This also applies to very severe moth infestations. If you find moths in food, always ensure you determine their source; it could be the store, warehouse, manufacturer, neighbor, or your home. Food moths must always be controlled at their source.

Which textiles are at risk?

It is the larvae of brown house moths that are the true pests because they are the ones that damage textiles (e.g., creating holes in clothes, ruining fur garments, etc.).

The larvae feed on natural textiles like wool, fur, feathers, etc., but they can also survive on dirt and debris found on other types of textiles. This means that larvae can also damage textiles such as cotton, silk, and polyester to reach dirt or wool.

Similarly, mixed textiles (e.g., half cotton/half wool) can also be attacked.

Brown House Moth Larvae

Brown house moth larvae are 0.6–2 cm long, with whitish bodies, dark brown heads, and slightly darker mouthparts.

They are almost omnivorous but primarily feed on organic materials in a home, such as wool, fur, seeds, grains, cork, etc. Around the home, they may also feed on dried plants and debris in bird nests.

They thrive indoors but can also survive outdoors. However, frost and fluctuating temperatures around the freezing point kill them. Some larvae can live up to two years.

It should be noted that moisture is critical for the development of brown house moth larvae. They cannot reach adulthood if their surroundings are too dry. Therefore, controlling damp areas in the home is essential in managing brown house moths.

Description of the Brown House Moth

The adult brown house moth is 0.8–1.5 cm long, with a wingspan of 1.6–2.6 cm.

It has characteristic golden or bronze-colored wings with black spots, which are usually folded along its back, lying flat.

The brown house moth can sometimes be confused with the case-bearing clothes moth, which has only three black or dark spots on each wing (while the brown house moth has several). The wingspan of the brown house moth is also larger than that of the case-bearing clothes moth.

Brown house moths can live both outdoors and indoors and are often found in bird nests. Indoors, they typically appear at dusk. They tend to run rather than fly when spotted.

Life Cycle

The adult brown house moth lays eggs near the larvae’s future food source (e.g., in a carpet, some clothes, etc.).
The eggs hatch 2–4 weeks later, depending on the temperature and humidity.
The larvae begin feeding on their food source and form a silken cocoon within it.
Larvae do not typically move unless they run out of food.
The larvae seal themselves in their cocoons and enter the pupal stage, where they can remain for a long time, but under favorable conditions, they emerge as fully grown moths after 2–8 weeks.

Under optimal conditions, an adult brown house moth can lay 500–600 eggs in its lifetime. You can read more about the life cycle of brown house moths here and about moth life cycles in general here.

The History of the Brown House Moth

Brown house moths originated in Asia and spread to other parts of the world (including Europe) in the 1840s. Today, brown house moths can be found across the globe, except in very cold Arctic regions.

In the past, the problem with brown house moths and other textile moths was much more significant than it is today. This is mainly because the clothing industry now uses far more synthetic textiles than before. Additionally, our knowledge of preventing and controlling brown house moths is now much more extensive, making the problem easier to manage.