Are Moths Dangerous And What Should You Do If You Find Them In Your Home?

Moths are a common sight throughout the UK, and while most moths are harmless, some species are considered pests. Many people wonder: are moths dangerous? And why are they considered pests?

At Mission Pest Control, our team are experts in moth control and use cutting-edge heat treatments and professional-grade insecticides to eradicate moths from properties across Swindon and the surrounding area.

So, are moths dangerous? The short answer is that generally moths in the UK aren’t dangerous. Unlike other insect pests, moths can’t bite or sting humans, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely harmless. They can still cause serious damage to property, contaminate food and generally be a nuisance.

While seeing one or two in your home isn’t cause for serious alarm, it could mean that there’s an infestation. Keep reading to learn more about issues caused by moths and how to get rid of them for good.

Pest Moth Species Found In The UK

There are over 160,000 different species of moths in the world, but only around 2,500 of them are found in the UK. Of these, only a few are classed as pests. These include:

  • Common Clothes Moths: Often known as carpet moths, their larvae feed on natural materials and can be highly destructive.
  • Case-Bearing Clothes Moths: Case-bearing clothes moths are similar to common clothes moths, but they make silken tubes that act as protective tunnels.
  • Indian Meal Moths: Also known as pantry moths, Indian meal moths contaminate dried food and are a common stored product pest.
  • Brown House Moths: These large, brown moths eat both dried foods and natural fibres, so they are one of the most destructive pest moth species.

Issues Caused By Pest Moths

Moths might not be dangerous to human health, but they can still cause serious issues, including:

  • Bare Patches In Carpets: If you have carpet moths, you might notice large bare patches in your carpets, rugs, curtains, soft furnishings and other household fabrics.
  • Holes In Clothes: Clothes moth larvae feed on natural fibres, so cashmere, leather, wool, cotton and other materials can get holes if you have an infestation.
  • Contamination Of Food: Pantry moths can leave behind larvae, silk cases and other debris that contaminates dried foods, such as grain products, dried fruits, cereals and more.
  • A Musty Smell: Large moth infestations can cause a musty, stale smell, which is particularly strong near wardrobes or kitchen cupboards, where the infestation is most concentrated.
  • Allergic Reactions: In some cases, you might find you’re allergic to moths, and get skin irritation, rashes and even, in some cases, respiratory problems.

Are Moths Poisonous?

In the UK, none of the moth species found are poisonous. In fact, there are very few moth or butterfly species in the world that are poisonous to humans, and only then it is only if you eat a lot of them.

Most pets, such as dogs, cats and rabbits, are also fine to be around moths, and even ingest a few accidentally, although if they keep eating moths this could cause stomach pain for them.

Can Moths Bite?

Adult moths don’t have mouthparts, and as such they physically can’t bite humans or other animals. The holes in clothes or carpets found from a moth infestation are caused by moth larvae.

Moth larvae feed regularly to ensure they grow and pupate before turning into adult moths. During the adult moth life cycle stage, the sole purpose is reproduction, so the adults don’t need mouths. Moth larvae are too small to bite humans, and moths also don’t have stings.

As a result, you can rest assured that moths are not capable of causing significant bodily harm to humans or pets.

How To Get Rid Of Moths

While moths might not be a danger to your health, they can still cause significant property damage and stress. In some cases, they can also lead to allergic reactions.

So, just because the answer to are moths dangerous is no, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be proactive and get rid of moths as soon as possible.

One or two moths flying in your home isn’t cause for concern, but look out for other signs of a moth infestation, such as holes in clothing, bare patches in rugs or carpets, and moth eggs or silken tubes.

If you notice any of these signs, then you should contact a professional pest control company as soon as possible. Mission Pest Control’s team are all RSPH level 2 certified, meaning they have access to moth control products that aren’t available to the general public.

Our team use solutions such as state-of-the-art heat treatment equipment to remove moths effectively and ensure they kill moths at all life cycle stages.

As well as moths, we can also deal with other, more dangerous insect pests that can bite and even draw blood, such as bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches and more.

If you’re ready to get rid of moths permanently, contact us on 01793 379333 or by emailing hello@missionpestcontrol.co.uk.

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