Do moths really eat clothes?

Adult moths don't actually eat clothes. It is the moth larvae that feeds off of the keratin in your clothes. Learn what happens when they do. read more

And boy do those things have an appetite. The full list of things clothes moth larvae can eat is pretty insane- basically they can eat and survive on virtually any natural fibre. They’ve been known to eat wool, cashmere, silk, cotton, linen, fur, feathers, hair, lint, carpets, the bristles of brushes, pet fur and even dust. read more

The larvae of the clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), also known as the webbing clothes moth, are the most common clothing destroyers. Unlike most moths, clothing moths hate light and prefer to hide away in the dark depths of closets, where they can discreetly deposit their larvae onto the nearest suitable garment. read more

Only one family of moths has the ability to eat natural fiber, and that's the family of the"clothing moth", Tineola bisselliella. Most moth caterpillars feed on trees, shrubs, and herbs, then feed on flower nectar as adults, but this unique moth eats natural fibers high in keratin, which includes animal hair, feathers, cotton, and silk. read more

It’s actually the caterpillars of clothes moths that eat clothes, not the adult moths. “Clothes moth” refers to several species in the family Tineidae, most members of which feed on fungi or lichens. read more