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Harmless

Webbing clothes moth

Tineola bisselliella
Also called clothes moth, common clothes moth

Clothes moths do not bite or harm people; their caterpillars eat holes in wool, fur, feathers and other animal fibers.

Webbing clothes moth, photo 1
Photo: Igor Balashov, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist
Sizeabout 6–8 mm (1/4 to 5/16 inch) long with wings folded; wingspan about 13 mm (1/2 inch)
Where in the houseClosets, bedroom, living room, attic, basement
WhenYear-round in heated homes; damage is often found when stored wool is taken out in fall.

Check these features

  1. Very small moth with shiny, plain golden-buff wings and no spots
  2. Tuft of reddish-gold hairs on top of the head
  3. Hides from light and tends to scurry or flutter in dark closets rather than fly to lamps
  4. Caterpillar is creamy white with a brown head and spins silky tunnels or mats on the fabric
  5. Irregular holes or grazed patches in wool, often under collars, cuffs or under furniture on rugs

Bites and stings

Does not bite people.

What to do

  1. Check wool, cashmere, fur, felt and feather items for holes, silk tunnels and tiny droppings, especially in dark, undisturbed spots.
  2. Wash in hot water or dry clean infested items; for things that cannot be washed, seal them in a plastic bag and freeze for two weeks, then let them warm up in the bag.
  3. Vacuum closets, rug edges, under furniture, baseboards and vents thoroughly, then empty the vacuum outside.
  4. Use pheromone moth traps to monitor for male moths and find hot spots; they do not end an infestation alone.
  5. Never spray pesticides on clothing or bedding; for large rugs or heavy infestations, call a professional.

Look-alikes

Casemaking clothes mothThe casemaking moth is browner with three faint dark spots on each front wing and no reddish head tuft, and its caterpillar carries a small silk case instead of spinning tunnels.
Indianmeal mothIndianmeal moths have two-tone wings with coppery outer halves, fly toward light and are found near food rather than fabric.

Why it came inside

It is an indoor insect that lives where it can find animal fibers: wool clothing, rugs, felt, fur, feathers, pet hair under baseboards and in vents, and old wasp or bird nests in attics. It usually spreads on infested secondhand items or stored clothing.

Keep it out

  • Clean wool and other animal-fiber clothing before storing it; body oils and food stains attract the larvae.
  • Store out-of-season woolens in airtight containers or sealed garment bags.
  • Treat cedar as a light help only: it protects items that are already clean and moth-free but does not kill an infestation.
  • Vacuum lint and pet hair regularly, and inspect secondhand wool rugs, clothing and furniture before bringing them in.

What helps

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Pheromone moth traps

Catch male moths and show whether you have a problem. They help you monitor, but won't end an infestation on their own.

See options on Amazon
Sealed garment bags

Zippered bags keep clothes moths and carpet beetles away from stored wool. Clean clothes before storing them.

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Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

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Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

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Sources

  1. University of Minnesota Extension
  2. University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
  3. Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
  4. Penn State Extension

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.