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- Species of moth
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- Wild Moth
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- Milestones
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- Clothes moth
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- Fur moth
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- Food moth
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- Wax moth
Characteristic of all kinds
Moth is a lepidopteran insect whose activity begins at dusk. They are characterized by small size and narrow wings when folded. Wardrobe folds the wings in a triangle, mottled with tubules, and ermine pyramids (see photo).
The color depends on the type of moth and habitat. For most insects, disguise is a vital necessity to protect themselves from predators. White moth - snow leaflet - practically does not stand out against the background of birch, and it is hard to see the fireweed on green leaves. Below is a photo of a moth living in the wild.
You can distinguish adults from butterflies by lack of proboscis. In the adult stage, moths do not eat anything, and energy reserves are replenished due to the substances that they accumulated as caterpillars. The mouth apparatus of the larvae is equipped with powerful jaws that can gnaw even hard bones, a dense shell of seeds, the shell of turtles, and the horns of animals.
Propagation Features
The answer to the question of how the moth multiplies will help to take preventive measures and more effectively deal with the pest. 5-6 hours after mating, the female lays eggs, their number varies from 50 to 100 pcs. In most cases, moth eggs are in the same substrate where the whole family lives. Under favorable conditions, after 6-7 days, small worm-shaped ones appear. moth larvae with a whitish transparent body, the size of which does not exceed 1mm. The optimal conditions for the development of eggs is a temperature of 30-33 ° C, at a temperature of 15 ° C, the maturation time can increase up to 35 days.
Pregnant females almost do not fly and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Mostly males fly in the apartment.
Caterpillars are also not inclined to travel and are characterized by low mobility. At this stage of development of the moth, they molt several times, and the duration of the period can range from 40 days to 2.5 years. Developed caterpillars begin to weave a cocoon in which it will pupate. Inside, it is absolutely smooth, the outer part can be covered with small debris, insect excrement, dust particles. The pupal development stage lasts 8-28 days, depending on the ambient temperature.
The full cycle of development from an egg to an adult state can range from 60 days to 2-3 years. How much an adult lives depends on its gender. Females live 7-10 days, and the life span itself can reach 30 days.
Description of Varieties
Several tens of thousands of different species of these insects live on the planet. The main household pests are the following types of moths: furniture, food (grain, flour), wool, fur coat, clothes moth, fruit, potato, apple, cabbage, the bee (wax), burdock, mining etc.
Almost every type of plant has its own type of insect.
Indoor moth
Indoor moth is a collective term for all types of insects that can live in the house and spoil groceries and clothing. Only a power source distinguishes them, only an expert can recognize external differences.
Clothes moth
The clothes moth is distinguished by the yellowish color of the wings without visible ornaments. Larvae live in hollow tissues and are capable of gnawing a huge space. For a long time, their presence may be invisible, since they leave the outer thin layer intact. They prefer to eat cotton, wool, natural upholstery of upholstered furniture. From the waste products, food debris, microscopic dust accumulations, the larvae build their own case. The clothes moth is afraid of daylight and tries to hide in the folds of clothes or in covers. Most of the insect lives in clothing cabinets in dark secluded corners.
There are several ways to get rid of clothes moths and other varieties that eat clothes at home:
- Aerosol products for treating clothes - effective for killing insects at all stages of development and can be used at any time of the year.
- Freezing clothes - at temperatures below 5 ° C, the entire population dies. High temperatures have the same effect, so you can get rid of clothing moths if you hang infected clothes on the street on a hot day, after shaking it. Some of the larvae will crumble, and the rest will die under the sun.
- Wash infected items at the maximum permissible temperatures.
- The use of special fumigators with insecticides.
- As a means of combating adult butterflies, folk remedies are used. Strongly smelling herbs in cloth bags, hung in closets with clothes, can scare off ordinary-looking moths. But it is worthwhile to understand that aromas cannot destroy larvae and eggs.
Fur moth
Enumerating what types of moths are, one cannot but recall the fur coat moth, which is capable of eat a fur coat, and in a short period, turn an expensive fur product into a wearable item. Adult butterflies are characterized by small size and small black dots on the wings. Larvae are white. Food preferences - natural fabrics and furs.
Furniture Moth
Furniture moth is another type of indoor pest. Larvae gnaw their way and their route of movement may look like tunnels. The development period of the caterpillars depends on the nutritional value of the feed. In food with a high content of natural components, the larvae grow very quickly, after 25-30 days they turn into a full-fledged adult and begin to multiply rapidly. Females are very fertile - the number of eggs in one egg laying can reach two hundred.
Distinctive features of food moth
Food moths are insects from the family of moths with a characteristic pattern on the wings. In apartments there is also an inconspicuous food moth, which can be mistaken for a wardrobe. Favorite habitats for representatives of this species are the kitchen and food storage facilities. Larvae willingly eat nuts, cereals, dried fruits and any dry food.
The parasite can not be called an excellent flyer and getting into the house of a pest from neighboring apartments is nonsense. Most often, an insect enters a house with infected purchases. Temperature 25-30 ° C, high humidity - ideal conditions for the development of larvae.Food moth usually mates in their habitats, where the female lays eggs. Even in those rare cases when mating occurs at a distance from the food supply, the female always returns to her food environment.
The main harm from the insect is the spoilage of food products, which become absolutely unsuitable for consumption. To begin the fight with a domestic pest, it should be immediately, as soon as the "enemy" gave out its presence, then get rid of moth in cereals and other bulk products will be easier:
- Audit all food stocks. Carefully inspect the contents of all jars, containers, even if they are tightly closed. Buying infected cereals is a common occurrence. If a product is found that contains a pest, it is best to throw it away. Occasionally, when the infection has not acquired a grandiose scale, potentially infected products are heated in the oven.
- The outer and inner walls of kitchen cabinets, cabinets must be treated with an insecticidal agent and make sure that it does not get on food.
- Adult individuals are also subject to destruction. Despite the fact that they have lost the ability to eat, they mate and breed well. Eliminate adults can be done mechanically, using adhesive tapes, trap baits.
Street moth
The types of street moth include a large number of species of insects. Urban residents can often observe poplar moth, which is sometimes called woody moth. Moths do not harm humans; they feed on poplar fluff and tree leaves.
In agriculture, cereals, cabbage, potatoes, gooseberries, tomatoes, etc. are common. Almost every plant can “boast” its species of this pest.
Wax moth
Beekeepers are familiar with wax moth. Adult individuals emit a special aroma, thanks to which the bees take them for their own and freely let them into the hive. The larvae feed on all the products that are in the bee house: honey, bee bread, wax. Infection of hives with wax moth leads to the fact that the bee colonies weaken and are forced to leave their habitat or die.
