A herd of elephants could trample over your Persian or Oriental rug and the chances are it would still be in good shape, but introduce an infestation of tiny insects into your Rugs or Carpets, the damage done could be dramatic. Household moths are a major concern for Persian rug owners and Oriental rug cleaners alike. The damage done can be drastic and cross contamination is a big worry. Adult moths flying around do not do the damage; it is the larvae in the early stages that eat away at the wool in a rug and just about anything else in their way. Adult moths do not eat the wool but the females do lay hundreds of eggs at a time, often in dark undisturbed areas. Rugs which are not regularly moved or vacuumed or areas under furniture can be prime location for nesting. The eggs hatch into larvae which feast on hair, wool or silk fibres and just about anything else they can sink their teeth into. These larvae then create a cocoon before evolving into the small moths you may see flying around your home. Clothes moths are small, around 1 cm in size and are generally a silvery or brown colour. They are slow moving but beat their wings rapidly to move, often when you try to catch them they will fold their wings and drop to the floor. Moth larvae causes a major infestation that can cause devastating damage to a rug in a matter of weeks.

Tip Take Brilliant Care Of Your Beloved Rug:

It is important to know what to look out for to prevent damage caused by moths or the spread of larvae from one rug to another or into your carpets. The first thing you may notice is moths themselves, the ones to look out for are the small ones less than half an inch in length, the large moths that attach themselves to outside windows, drawn to the light, are not the big concern. If you do notice these small silvery or brown insects, or even if you don’t, it’s a good idea to inspect the back of your rugs from time to time. The eggs will often be laid on the reverse of the rug as this is most likely to be undisturbed and the darkest environment. These eggs can be difficult to spot, they often appear as a powdery-type dust but may be the same colour as the wool. Eggs will hatch within about a week into larvae, a small maggot like insect which can grow up to half an inch long. These are the critters that cause the damage and they can move around the rug. Often a particular colour will be tastier to the larvae than the rest and they start feeding on this first, this is why you see rugs with patches of colour worn away. It can be difficult to spot the larvae if the infestation is not bad. Sand-like particles in the pile of the rug which are tan or brown in colour is an indication of a problem, there is a good chance that this is the excretion of the larvae. Larvae can be active anywhere between 2 and 30 months before forming a cocoon, by far the biggest life-stage of a moth. These cocoons are slightly larger than the larvae at their largest size, web-like in structure and can often be camouflaged to the same colour as the wool. These last around a week before hatching into adult moths.