Can Spiders Ruin Clothes?
WouterIf you live in an area with an insect infestation, you may worry about ruined clothes. This is especially true of winter coats, which can become a nest for insects. You can save your expensive clothing by taking precautions.
Insects that can eat your clothing include silverfish, carpet beetles, and clothes moths. All of these insects eat animal fibers, such as fur, wool, and keratin, which is a protein found in animal-based materials.
Carpet beetles are the most common of these pests. They have a long, tapering body with a wingless abdomen. They attack both synthetic and natural fibres. They are nocturnal. Their larvae chew through cotton and linen. They also attack upholstered furniture. They are attracted to starch in laundry.
While both carpet beetles and clothes moths can eat your clothing, they are slightly different in their habits. Carpet beetles are more common than clothes moths in most of the country.
Adult carpet beetles lay between 100 and 300 eggs. They can be brought into your home through cut flowers. Their larvae feed on hair, fur, and wool. They also damage fabrics by eating holes.
If you have an infestation of bedbugs, you should take your clothes to a dry cleaner or store them in a cold place. This will kill the eggs and make it more difficult for the bugs to feed. Then, wash the clothes. If you cannot get rid of the infestation, you might be able to re-sew or repair the items.
