The larva makes a portable case for itself out of wool and other fibres.
Case bearing carpet moth life cycle.
The carpet moth has a very similar life cycle to a clothes moth.
The most common clothes moths are the webbing clothes moth easily identified with a golden color and around half an inch in length and the case bearing moth which can be identified about inch long and their forewings are mottled brown with one large and a few smaller indistinct black spots.
This is one of the few moth species that can damage clothing and carpets but you can deter them from households.
The case bearing clothes moth builds itself a portable case out of debris such as fibres and hairs in which they can hide.
Carpet moths are typically found in warmer climates during the summer.
Case bearing carpet moths tinea pellionella are a common textile pest their larvae feed on keratin in natural fibres and so are a household pest due to the damage they can cause to woollen carpets and silk rugs as well as expensive clothing the larvae can also feed on cobwebs birds nests and other natural materials.
Its scientific name is derived from tinea a generic term for micromoths and the latin term for a furrier pellionellus.
The life cycle of a carpet moth clothes moth.
The adult moth is a pale silvery grey brown with dark spots and approximately 7mm long.
Alamy rather confusingly most of these moth species will sometimes switch from carpets to clothes and chew any natural fabrics like cotton wool and silk.
The adults do not live long and the mated adult female lays hundreds of eggs in her short life time.