Dubliners have been warned to take precautions as the moth er of all infestations are on the rise this time of the year.
Clothes moths begin breeding during the spring months and are typically more active during this period.
Moth larvae can destroy clothes, carpets, blankets, and curtains.
The pests are most likely to be found in infrequently used areas of a house such as attics, spare bedrooms, underneath mattresses, and in seldom-used wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.
Dublin accounted for the highest number of moth callouts last year at 42% followed by Galway (9% of callouts), Cork (8%), Wicklow (7%), and Kildare (5%).
Here are some top tips from Rentokil to avoid moth infestations in your homes and businesses:
- Always ensure that clothes are clean before storing them – soiled and dirty clothes are more likely to attract moths
- Ensure that clothes that are stored for long periods of time such as suits and wedding dresses in appropriate sealed bags or suitcases
- Use fly screens or keep curtains drawn at night to prevent moths from entering your home
- Clean and Vacuum regularly in order to remove moth eggs before they hatch, this is particularly important in times of the year with increased moth activity such as in the spring and summer
There are four commonly found species of moth in Ireland each with a preference for different textiles, and each varying in the damage that they cause to materials:
- Common clothes moth cause irregular shaped holes in textiles
- Brown house moth larvae is attracted to animal-based materials such as feathers and leather
- Case bearing clothes moth larvae causes smaller and more regularly shaped holes in textiles
- White shouldered house moth larvae are less damaging to textiles as they scavenge on a wide range of food
Sign up for Dublin Live's breaking news newsletter by simply entering your email address here
The FREE email will land into your inbox every day. Whether it be traffic and travel, what's on or crime - this newsletter will have you covered for everything.
You can unsubscribe from this service at any time. And rest assured that your data will not be shared with any other party.
