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Forget about naphthalene, it will not be possible to remove moths with it. To effectively deal with insect pests, you must first determine their habitat.
How to get rid of moths in the apartment?
Moth is different: grain, furniture, woolen, carpet (the latter is also called a kozheed, because it is not averse to feasting on leather products), even rye and cabbage - only about 30 species.
In addition, moths are not only butterflies, but also caterpillars and eggs. It turns out that chasing moths flying around the house is useless, because by killing them, we just disable the males, which are harmless to things. And at this time, the females lay all the new silver-white eggs in the closet, from which voracious caterpillars soon appear. We will get rid of them.
Grain (food) moth encroaches on our food supplies: cereals, flour and dried fruits most often suffer from its larvae. This moth loves warmth high humidity and lack of ventilation.
Woolen (she is also felt, fur coat, felt) moth breeds all year round. And at the same time he eats wool, felt, feathers, natural velvet, fur, book bindings and much more, gnawing through synthetic fabrics on the way to food and plastic bags. Caterpillars calmly withstand temperatures down to 0 ° C and can go without food for 30 days. Considering that the mole lives for a long time - about two years - you can imagine how many things it will have time to spoil during this time.
Moth control products are available in the form of plates, sections, sprays and classic tablets.
Most cheap option – tablets and briquettes, which are an alloy of naphthalene and camphor. Tablets are traditionally placed at the top of cabinets. Heavy vapors of naphthalene and camphor sink down, preventing moth butterflies from laying eggs on clothes. These ancient remedies would be good for everyone, but they are by no means safe for human health, especially in high concentrations.
advanced plates deprived of moths bad smell. According to the manufacturers, they destroy moths and larvae, repel carpet bugs and skin beetles. The combat readiness of the plates can be expected within 6 months.
Sections from the moth- the most civilized form of anti-mole drugs. They can be scented with lavender, mandarin and chamomile. Special sections are produced for the delicate protection of children's things. It is necessary to remove the protective tape and place the section on the top of the cabinet. The anti-molding action of one section extends to 0.5 cubic meters. m. It will be necessary to replace it with a new one in 4-6 months. However, the warnings on the packaging that in a room up to 15 square meters. m. You can use no more than two sections, and store the product separately from food in places inaccessible to children, clearly indicate the toxicity of these repellents. Is it possible to replace them with something more natural?
It is not as difficult to get rid of domestic moths as it is to get rid of its larvae, so one treatment of the room with dichlorvos will not give the desired result. Naphthalene also copes with this task only partially: its smell repels adults, but does not affect moth eggs in any way. Moreover, these two methods are also harmful to human health, therefore, consider other, less dangerous and more effective.
The first, and most obvious sign of the presence of a clothes (room) moth is flying butterflies in the apartment. Killing them is pointless. To get rid of moths, it is much more important to find the source of its nutrition. Moth can eat ordinary food or natural fabrics of clothes and shoes, fur, carpets, book bindings, etc. Carefully examining things, you can find small holes and moth-eaten paths. In food, it is easiest to detect larvae or find the remains of empty pupae.
Kitchen or food moths are called differently: cereal, grain, flour - the essence of this does not change. If you find moth larvae in flour or one of the cereals, you will have to check the entire kitchen, cabinets and refrigerator as well.
After getting rid of the affected food, you will need to take care of their safety in the future, that is, store cereals in closed containers. If the moth wound up in a bag of cereals, it is preferable to get rid of it. In case this is not possible or you found a problem at the very beginning, sort out the cereal and dry it in the oven or microwave oven. Be sure to replace the bag with a new one.
Having found traces of moths on clothes, you will need to check all the cabinets in which things made from natural fabrics are stored. Also pay attention to carpets, curtains and shoes. Bed sheets and sleeping accessories that lie idle for a long time can also be a habitat for moths. The most attractive for her are wadded mattresses and blankets, woolen blankets and feather pillows.
In a well-ventilated area, moths are unlikely to start. Also, insects are not interested in clothes that are regularly worn. She loves secluded dark corners, such as closets full of things, she is attracted to dampness and dirty clothes. If there is at least a small wet spot on the fabric, it is this area that the mole will begin to eat first. The smell of sweat from things and fresh wet spots can become a source of food and the place where the insect lays its eggs.
Empty the closet completely. First of all, clothes should be taken out into the fresh air - on the street or outdoor balcony. On a sunny day, adult moth butterflies will leave their habitat much faster. You can simply shake off the larvae - they hold on weakly, so there will be no problems.
Pack after washing seasonal clothes in plastic cases or bags.
To get rid of moths, you need to place an insect repellent smell in the closet. Hardware stores may offer the following:
The moth does not tolerate the smell of camphor, lavender and fir. You can purchase essential oil and soak cotton swabs or discs with it and place it in the right amount in the closet or in the kitchen. good remedy are also considered orange peels and tobacco.
Ordinary house flowers can also come to the rescue. Geranium is the worst enemy of moths. In order to get rid of it, it is enough to put this plant near its habitat.
Video source: All will be well
It is customary to call the one that lives indoors and eats clothes, carpets and furniture upholstery made of silk, fur, wool. Moreover, not adults, but larvae and caterpillars are of particular danger. That is why the fight should begin with their elimination.
The best moth control is excellent ventilation, sunlight, low or very heat. Therefore, it is advisable to ventilate all clothes and shoes on the street during the day. And those things that can be ironed must be subjected to this procedure.
This insect also cannot stand the smell of ordinary soap, so all dark corners in the room should be wiped with concentrated soapy water. To achieve maximum effect, you can also add a little natural lavender or fir oil there.
In wardrobes, as well as next to furniture, you can put gauze bags with dried lavender, tansy or citrus peels - their smell will scare away the insect. It is important to change the contents of the bags every month so that they continue to exude aroma.
Help in the fight against moths and chestnuts, which can also be decomposed in dark apartments. And this insect does not like the smell of geraniums, so such a flower will not only give aesthetic pleasure, but also get rid of the pest.
Food moth starts in various cereals. Vinegar can be used to control this pest in the kitchen and pantry. With this tool, you need to thoroughly wipe all the shelves and cabinet doors.
This insect also does not tolerate the aroma of pepper, garlic, bay leaf, cloves, so moths are rarely found in cabinets with spices. To protect cereals from a pest, it is worth putting a box with such spices on the shelf.
Helps to get rid of moths and peppermint. Dried and crushed leaves of this plant can be folded into a gauze bag and also stored next to the cereals. However, it is worth changing such a tool every two weeks.
So that the moth no longer starts, cereals should be stored exclusively in sealed packaging. Things and shoes should be put in the closet only clean. Once a month it is useful to sort them out and air them on fresh air so that straight lines fall on them Sun rays. In this case, fur products should be turned inside out, otherwise bright light can ruin them. Every 4 weeks it is also useful to wipe cabinets and other dark places soap solution.
Moth started up in the apartment - how to get rid of this annoying and harmful creature? The most radical and easiest way is to call exterminators and process the housing. But if the destruction of bedbugs, cockroaches, rodents and other unwanted neighbors by the forces of specialists is considered shameless, then in most cases we prefer to get rid of moths with the help of slippers or a folded newspaper. Even more often, the fight against moths is carried out with the help of thunderous applause and nervous movements throughout the apartment. The effectiveness of such measures is low and the question of how to get the moth out of the apartment does not lose its relevance for at least 2 reasons: property damage and psychological irritation from randomly flitting creatures.
Most people will shrug their shoulders in surprise at this question. Moth - she is a mole. The one that lives in the kitchen is called the kitchen. The one that prefers carpets, hats and chiffoniers is a room one. In reality, everything is much more complicated and interesting. Let's leave cabbage, barn, apple and other wild moths to be torn apart by workers Agriculture and focus on "domesticated" individuals.
"Moly" is the common name for many (up to 40) families of lower butterflies. In total, there are about 15,000 species of moths, of which about 200 settled in Russia. Fortunately, no more than 10 of them lead a home lifestyle. Our cohabitants belong to the most common species of lepidopteran insects from the family of real moths (lat. Tineidae). The length of adult domestic moths does not exceed 10 mm, the wingspan is 20–22 mm.
The moth itself is a harmless insect. Her life is short and tragic in many ways. Due to the absence of a proboscis, the mole cannot eat, the digestive organs do not function. The purpose of its existence is the continuation of offspring. After several clutches of eggs, the moth dies. Harm is caused by moth larvae, capable of destroying even inedible objects. Getting to food, the larvae can gnaw through silk and synthetic fabrics. They eat not only wool, fur, cereals and similar delicacies, but also book bindings, bristles, and feathers.
The question often arises of where the moth comes from in the house. A moth cannot start on its own. No one will specifically bring them out either. Most often, a mole can appear in a dwelling along with a person in food, old things, and furniture. Moths can enter through cracks from neighbors or from the basement. Human habitation attracts insects with an abundance of creatine, in in large numbers contained in natural fabrics, wool, cereals. However, if a mole starts up, how to get rid of it becomes a more pressing issue.
Stages of life
Like other butterflies, moths go through several transformations in their lifetime. The total lifespan from egg to death can be up to 1 year.
Egg laying is the first stage in the life of a harmful insect. A fertilized female moth lays eggs in a bunch in one place. For laying eggs, the moth selects secluded places where sunlight does not penetrate. Eggs are laid on nutrient material, which will later become food for the larvae. It can be a woolen thing thrown into the corner of a wardrobe, a fur product, a forgotten bag of cereals. Moths will never lay eggs on everyday clothing.
Moth eggs have cylindrical shape, one end is more pointed. The average egg size is 0.5x0.3 mm. You can see them only in connection with the mass character and accuracy of the masonry. For 1 time, the mole lays from 60 to 230 pearl-white eggs. The optimum temperature for the maturation of eggs and in general for the life of moths is + 20 ... + 25ºС. The egg maturation period under optimal conditions is 10-15 days. The greatest activity is observed in late spring and early summer, although in an apartment, moths can breed all year round.
Eggs cannot cause harm in principle, but voracious larvae appear from them, which are dangerous. It is necessary to get rid of the discovered clutches without waiting for the appearance of larvae. Otherwise, the specific condition of the laying site will help to detect the former clutch of eggs.
Caterpillars hatched from eggs immediately begin to fulfill their main task - weaving a cocoon. To this end, the larvae begin to actively feed, leaving behind waste products. The food for the larvae is creatine, which is found in wool, fur, pile. The caterpillars literally eat away the place in which they appeared from the eggs, and the larvae of the fur moth, for example, may not eat the hairs of the fur, but gnaw them, leaving behind a specific path. Kitchen moth larvae begin to eat food, depending on their addictions.
Larvae of food and clothing moths lead an inactive lifestyle, although food moths are more active. Nevertheless, eating everything in its path, the larvae can crawl short distances, move from thing to thing. Optimum temperature for the development of larvae is +23…+25 °C. Temperatures below +13 °С and above +30 °С are critical for caterpillars, although some species tolerate temperatures up to 60 °С. Moth larvae that specialize in edible objects will never use fabrics or furs, although they may retrain for uncharacteristic for this species. food products. As well as vice versa, a fur moth larva can taste a woolen sweater, but will not taste flour or dried fruits.
A fully formed larva stops feeding and begins to weave a cocoon in which a chrysalis will form. A cocoon is a hard, spindle-shaped case or cave made of its own silky secretions, uneaten food, and the remains of life. A place for pupation is also chosen closed from prying eyes in some dark corner of the wardrobe. The exception is some food moths who prefer to attach the chrysalis in a conspicuous place.
The pupae reach up to 10 mm in length and are darker in color than the caterpillars. The surface of the pupae is hard, covered with particles of uneaten food and excrement. The color of the pupa approaches in color and shades to the color of the moth. The duration of stay in the pupal state depends on external conditions. With a favorable regime, it will take 1-2 weeks for the formation of a butterfly. At low temperatures, development slows down and may even stop until better times.
The process of the birth of a butterfly from a chrysalis is not a sight for the faint of heart. The cocoon breaks and from there, for a long time and painfully, something intermediate in appearance between a worm and a grasshopper is selected. Having got out into the wild, the butterfly spreads its wings for a while and straightens its legs. Literally a few hours after its appearance, the moth is ready to start breeding.
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The moth at the winged stage is not able to take food and exists due to the energy accumulated in the state of the larva. Males are more active, able to fly over distances of up to 800 m. The moth randomly flashing in our apartments is males. Such activity is not in vain for them, the life of a male moth is 1–2 weeks. During this time, the male must fertilize the female. Particularly gifted males manage to do this several times, after which they still have to die. The search for partners occurs by smell.
The female moth, if necessary, prefers to crawl, making small flights or jumps. The pregnant female refuses to move at all, remaining close to the place of her birth. Due to the lower energy consumption, the life expectancy of the female moth is slightly longer. As a rule, the moth lays its eggs in approximately the same place where it crawled out of the chrysalis. During the year, 2–3 generations of moths appear. Given their ability to breed year-round in an apartment, a fur coat chosen as a dinner and place of residence can turn into rags until the next winter season.
It is noteworthy that the maturation of butterflies does not occur simultaneously. From one clutch of eggs, ready-made individuals appear in different time. The female moth begins to lay eggs within 3-4 hours after mating. For my short life moth makes 1-2 clutches.
We conditionally divide domestic moths into 2 groups: kitchen moth and room moth. Such a separation will help you better understand what chemical and natural means and how to deal with moths in an apartment. Despite the huge choice, it is not advisable to use modern effective aerosols in the kitchen, since they can easily destroy moths, but food stocks will have to be thrown away.
The main types of moths that have settled in our sofas and wardrobes include:
Living with moths in the kitchen is psychologically more unpleasant than sharing one wardrobe for two. FROM material point vision, kitchen moths are cheaper, but it is extremely unpleasant to watch worms swarming in flour. The housewife will rush to first remove the moth in the kitchen, protect food from unwanted intrusion, carry out a general cleaning, and only after that she will ask herself how to remove the moth in the apartment. Kitchen moths include:
Grain moth. White-silvery butterfly, wingspan reaches 15 mm. The larvae eat grains, cereals, making holes in them or gnawing them completely. Fasten several grains into a bundle and carry them with them. Do not refuse dried fruits and various seeds. The larva is able to molt up to 12 times.
Mushroom moth. Brown-gray butterfly with a wingspan of about 15 mm. Initially lives in the forests, but feels great in the kitchen. Prefers bulk products, dried fruits.
Flour moth. An inconspicuous grayish insect that lays eggs in flour. Moth larvae fasten flour into small lumps, pollute with waste products and molt. Feel comfortable even in tightly closed containers.
It is quite simple to destroy a room moth with the help of special preparations and aerosols. However, the use of such substances in the kitchen is undesirable due to the presence of various toxic substances. Even if the packaging says that the drug does not pose a danger to humans and pets, it is not worth checking. The difficulty of dealing with kitchen moths also lies in the fact that they are more patient with folk remedies. Conventionally, moth control methods can be divided into 3 groups:
Prevention
The best way to get rid of moths is to prevent them from appearing. For prevention, the following measures should be taken:
For holding preventive measures not required financial expenses. Subject to these recommendations, the apartment will always be clean and comfortable.
Currently, the stores offer the richest selection of various means to combat flying, crawling, jumping and running creatures that want to share shelter with a person. Chemicals can be divided into the following groups:
With the help of aerosols, moths can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. The contents of the aerosols are sprayed in the habitats of the moth. Lower parts need to be processed upholstered furniture, other woven or fur surfaces, spray a certain amount throughout the rooms. The aerosol does not leave marks on clothes and fabric coverings, destroys both winged individuals and larvae. After aerosol treatment, the room must be left for several hours, after which it must be thoroughly ventilated. It is not recommended to use the aerosol in the kitchen, as the poison will in any case get on the food. The most popular aerosols Dr. Klaus Antimol, Armol, Raptor Moth Protection, Mosquitall and others.
Moth sections are less effective, but completely harmless. Sections do not contain toxic substances that can destroy the moth and its larvae. The action of the sections is aimed at scaring away the butterflies contained in them. essential oils. The sections have no effect on the larvae, but the adult moth will prefer to lay its eggs in a more hospitable place. Sections are represented on the market by manufacturers of the Mosquitall and Raptor brands.
Moth annoyed man long before the invention of aerosols and fumigators. Natural remedies such as lavender, orange peels, tobacco, and geraniums have an excellent deterrent effect. Even simple laundry soap will irritate butterflies. Bundles of lavender or tobacco must be put into bags and placed on shelves in cabinets and wardrobes. Orange peels must be fresh. As long as the peels exude fragrance, the moth will not lay eggs. Orange peels can also be used to repel moths from the kitchen. The smell of live geranium also repels butterflies. Geranium pots can be placed in the kitchen and in the rooms.
Get rid of kitchen moths with just folk remedies unlikely, an integrated approach would be required. First you need to identify the habitats of the larvae and get rid of them, sort out cereals and other foodstuffs, and carry out a thorough cleaning. After that, orange peels and geraniums can help. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to set traps and hang adhesive tape. But even under such conditions, in cases of severe infection, you will have to resort to using chemicals. Subject to these recommendations, a moth that has wandered into an apartment will very quickly begin to beg for mercy and disappear from sight forever, taking its eggs and larvae with it.