Rugs & Moth Damage: What to Look For
Moths and their larvae thrive in darkened and undisturbed areas where a rug gets very little traffic and is not often cleaned.
Flying moths do not eat at rugs but just one female moth can lay hundreds of eggs – these eggs hatch into larvae and these pests consume the wool and silk fibers of your rug.
Infestations: What to Look For
An infestation often involves more than one rug and can spread from woolen fabrics and furs in closets or drawers.
A bad infestation sometimes leaves a cobweb-like covering in the damaged area, along with fine, granular remains
This damage isn’t difficult to repair but reweaving a large area of the rug can be quite costly.
Bare Spots In The Pile
Interestingly enough, generally moth larvae will prefer the taste of one yarn color over another, therefore the bare spots may involve specific colors being eaten away.
Larvae In Pile
White, slender, worm-like larvae can often be seen just after hatching, before they’ve built their cocoons, and they are responsible for eating at the wool.
Broken/Loose Piles
This damage is due to the larvae having chewed through yarn overcastings or bindings
Sand-like Particles
These particles can be found down in the pile of the rug and has a tan or brown color. They have a granular look, are regular in size, and is the excretion of the larvae.
Cocoons
These particles can be found down in the pile of the rug and has a tan or brown color. They have a granular look, are regular in size, and is the excretion of the larvae.
Webs
White, silky strands covering patches of the rug’s pile, indicating a bad infestation.