Surely each of you understands that the appearance of moths does not promise anything good. This little flying parasite causes irreparable damage to food and clothing. From this article you will learn what the mole eats.
What is this pest?
Common moth looks like a relatively small and completely harmless butterfly. However, in addition to adults, there are also larvae that are consumers of keratin, easily obtained from wool fibers, carpet pile and fur coats. After them, waste products clog the “places of the past dinner.”
Of course, not a single face can completely destroy a carpet or a fur coat, but the thing will still be damaged, since several rather large holes will appear in it. Those who study what moth eats are sure that in one day each individual is able to gnaw through a woolen or semi-woolen product.
Main insect species
Modern biologists know about forty families of common moths. And some of them live in our latitudes. The most voracious, and therefore dangerous forhuman habitation are considered:
- Furniture moth eating upholstery. This variety often settles in natural wood.
- Cloth moth. This insect harms woolen products.
- A grain moth that lives in kitchens and eats all kinds of cereals.
Features of reproduction
An insect that finds itself in a residential area or occupies crops begins to actively multiply. This process takes place in four stages. The female lays eggs first. They can be collected in one place or scattered over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe site, which will later be occupied by parasites.
Those who do not know what moth eats will be interested in the fact that during the development and growth of caterpillars, the previous generation of pests gradually dies out. This explains the marked decline in the number of flying butterflies.
Actively feeding larvae begin to increase in size. A well-fed individual pupates and spends about two months in its cocoon. After this period, a moth appears from there, resembling a chaotically flying butterfly.
If eggs are laid in early autumn, then the larvae have to spend the winter in woven cocoons. Individuals that are inside the living quarters continue to feed intensively, and all the rest hibernate until the arrival of spring. It should be noted that not all varieties of flying parasites are able to endure winter frosts. With the onset of heat, butterflies appear from cocoons, which, in turn, begin toreproduction of offspring.
Cotton Moth
Scientists disagree about the homeland of this insect. Some believe that this is Australia, others - India, others - China. The pest brought to Egypt turned into a real disaster for the inhabitants of the country. The thing is that this moth eats cotton. She began to rage on plantations where valuable long-staple varieties grew. From India and Egypt, she moved to Japan, Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Greece and South America. And wherever this pest appeared, people had to bear enormous crop losses.
The complexity of the fight against this type of moth and the rapid speed of its spread across the territory of countries cultivating cotton is due to its biological characteristics. The main difficulty is that the caterpillar is able to hibernate inside the boxes left on the field. They penetrate in large quantities into the storage of seed material, fiber and raw material. In winter, the caterpillars are in a state of diapause. Therefore, they are quite resistant to exposure to pesticides, as well as high and low temperatures. The duration of this state is up to two and a half years.
Cabbage moth
This is one of the most common pests, the fight against which takes a lot of time and effort. The main danger is not adults, but larvae. This moth eats cabbage. This native of Southern Europe adapted well to the harsh Russian winters. Due to its color (from light togray to brown) it is often mistaken for ordinary dirt.
Most often, she settles on cabbage, but does not disdain other crops from the cruciferous family. She liked such plants as mustard, canola, radish and radish. Whole families of pests live on large vegetables. First, they destroy the upper layers of the leaves, then they switch to buds and buds. They pose a particular threat to late varieties of cabbage that are planted in open ground.
Why is food moth dangerous?
Whether this pest eats clothes, you will find out further. It is sad that this insect can start even in the most sterile kitchen. He is comfortable in conditions of insufficient ventilation and high humidity. Food moth often settles in a variety of cereals and pasta. It can also be seen in seeds, nuts, coffee, tea, flour, dried herbs and baby food. Therefore, those who believe that this moth eats wool are deeply mistaken.
This hardy and very tenacious pest is able to endure severe frosts. He loves to hide in secluded corners. Often, moths clog under wallpaper, in baseboards or in cracks. Places with a large accumulation of dust are considered an excellent habitat for them. Food moth enters the dwelling along with cereals bought in the store. Therefore, before purchasing a particular package, you need to make sure that it is intact. The package brought home should be checked for the presence of larvae.
Those who have already understood what moth eats need to understand that inIn the process of insect development, a large number of dead larvae, skins and feces remain in the grain. All this makes the cereal unsuitable for further use. It is better to throw such a product in the garbage chute.
To avoid the appearance of moths, you need to clean the kitchen regularly, paying special attention to cabinets that store dried fruits, cereals and bulk products. Shelves can be treated with soapy water and wiped with a clean, damp cloth.
