Do moths hibernate? More specially, do any of the common types of moth that infest homes hibernate in your house, and is this a problem? The simple answer to this question is no, moths do not technically hibernate. That being said, this doesn’t mean that moths go away during the winter. Let’s take a look at some facts about moths and hibernation.
What do moths do in the winter time?
While it’s true that moths do not hibernate in the true sense of the word, they do become less active during winter. After the yearly summer moth boom, most adult insects will die off in the autumn. A few might make it through to winter, but they won’t make it further than this.
Now, you may be thinking that this is a good thing, but that’s really not the case. You see, before dying, these moths lay eggs which hatch within 1 to 2 weeks. Once hatched, these larvae can live for anywhere from 2 to 30 months.
During this time, they can cause immense damage. In case you don’t know, it’s not actually the moths that eat our clothes and carpets. Nope, it’s the larvae which cause this damage, and with such a long lifespan, they can become a major nuisance.
Some will become cocoons at some point in the colder months. During this time, they will not be causing any damage. This stage usually lasts 8-10 days, but can be up to 50 days. As soon as the temperature warms, out they come and look for a mate. Then a new generation is ready to lay eggs.
What can you do to prevent moth damage?
This is why you should always be on the lookout for moths, and take preventative measures against them. The best way to do this is by periodically inspecting your clothing and cupboards. Look for the signs of moths. This mostly includes holes in your clothing. After doing this, wash every item in your cupboard and also clean the cupboard itself. This will help to remove any eggs which may be present.
When this is done, pack your clothing into moth proof containers. This can include bags, suitcases, or preferably plastic containers. You can also purchase plastic clothing bags. Finally, make sure to place things like cedar balls in your cupboards. These are reported to work well and will go a long way to towards solving the problem. Something else that is really effective are pheromone traps. These basically kill male moths, which prevents female moths from reproducing.
It goes without saying that if a moth problem becomes severe, then professional London moth control services will be needed. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t worry whether moths hibernate or not. Instead, worry about preventing moths in the first place.
