Pest Control / Exterminator Blog from JCE
Everything You Need To Know About Pest Management
Jackets, coats, scarves, and gloves are essential clothing during winter. They are usually made of woolen materials that keep us warm. Storing winter clothing can be a challenge because they are thick and are only used during winter. Because they are stored in closets for a long time, they easily become a haven and breeding place for moths and in some cases, moth infestation. Moths are dull, drab insects that thrive in dark places like closets, basements, and attics. They specifically love to hang out inside closets during their larva or caterpillar stage because their diet includes animal-based fibers like wool, silk, cashmere, fur, and angora. At first glance, moths surely look harmless. In fact, we hardly consider them as pests since we don’t usually see them roaming around our house constantly and in a bothersome manner. Compared to roaches that look really gross and filthy, moths look more like not-so-pretty butterflies. Moths and butterflies actually belong to the same family of Lepidoptera where insects with scales and wings belong. But moths are more numerous than butterflies at a ratio of around 10:1. In the United States alone, there are 11,000 moth species.
So the question is: should we consider moths as pests in our households? Here’s the answer. Are Moths Harmful? As much as we’d like to think that moths are harmless brown butterflies that love to visit homes rather than gardens, they are actually not as safe as we think they are. In fact, the mere direct contact with their feces and white cocoons to our food poses a wide range of health threats including allergic reactions, mucosal irritations, and intestinal diseases. According to entomologist Rich Pollack, while most kinds of moths are inconsequential to people, some of them can cause contact dermatitis. Through direct contact with their wing scales, a person may experience irritation on the skin and even on the cornea of the eye. Even feces and white cocoons left in our clothes and other wearable items can cause irritation. Moths can also bite foils and thin plastics in order to penetrate sealed food containers. They pose health risks once they contaminate food. There are also species of moths that feed on plants with cardenolides. This poisonous compound is very dangerous when eaten by humans because it can affect heart muscles. Can Cedar Closets Ward Off Moths? Some people have said that closets made of cedar wood can keep moths away from clothes. But has this been proven to be true? To some extent, cedar closets have the power to ward off pests like moths because they contain cedar essential oil. Even during the ancient Egyptian times, the cedar oil has been used for cosmetics, perfumes, and insecticides. The cedarwood essential oil that we are using now comes from the coniferous evergreen Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). It is used as a repellent for moths, mosquitoes, bed bugs, flies, and other insects. But cedar closets can only be effective moth repellents if fumes from the cedar boards or planks are in high concentration. To replenish the scent, light sanding is required. One can also apply cedar essential oil or add cedar balls inside the closet. But one can never be sure if enough has been applied or not. Please take note, however, that only young moth larvae are only killed by this method. Eggs and adult moths are not deterred by the cedar essential oil. Common pesticides are not safe in solving moth infestation. Correct moth identification and breeding removal are still the most effective solutions in eliminating this pest inside homes. Where Do Moths Hide? A notable fact about moths is that they can dwell in your house unnoticed. Since some of their species are very small in size, they can get through wall crevices and furniture holes. Once inside, you can hardly notice their presence, so they can stay there their whole lives. Although moths have a short life span of two weeks, they can fly hundreds of meters within that period of time. Imagine how much food one moth can contaminate at that range! So the next time you see moths in your house, don’t simply shrug their presence off. Instead, contact trained and skilled pest management professionals from Jersey City Exterminators to take care of them.
1 Comment
|
Archives
October 2023
|
|
Best Pest Pro of New Jersey
NJ License Number 90719B |