Clothes moth life cycle: how they ruin fabrics and how to stop them

Published March 14, 2023 • Updated January 14, 2026
Reviewed by Julie Miller, BA in Language Arts, Editorial Lead, Dr. Killigan’s

TL;DR: Clothes moths go through four stages—egg, larva, pupa and adult—but it’s the larvae that destroy clothing, rugs and natural-fiber textiles. Larvae feed for weeks, chewing holes and weakening fibers in wool, cashmere, silk, fur and feathers before entering the pupal stage. Because eggs and cocooned pupae can hide in fabric, infestations often spread quietly. Understanding each stage makes it easier to spot early signs and act before damage spreads.

How to identify clothes moth larvae (quick check)

Clothes moth larvae are the stage that damages fabric—not the adult moths. Use this quick check to confirm what you’re seeing:

• Size: Typically about ¼–½ inch long when fully grown; newly hatched larvae are much smaller and easy to miss
• Color: Creamy white to pale yellow with a darker brown head
• Shape: Soft, slightly curved, worm-like bodies; webbing moth larvae appear bare, while case-bearing larvae carry a small silken case made from fibers
• Where they’re found: Deep in folds of wool, cashmere or silk; along carpet edges, seams, cuffs, drawers and low-traffic storage areas
• Damage pattern: Irregular holes, thinning fibers or grazed patches rather than clean, round holes
• What you may also see: Fine silky webbing, clumped fibers or grainy droppings (frass) near damaged fabric

People often call larvae “moth worms” or “baby worms.” In closets, that’s often clothes moth larvae.

Once you know what clothes moth larvae look like, the next step is understanding how they fit into the full life cycle—and how quickly damage can progress.

Clothes moth life cycle at a glance

Clothes moths develop through four stages.

• Eggs (4–21 days): Laid in dark, low-disturbance natural fibers
• Larvae (35–87 days): Feed continuously on natural fibers, creating holes and thinning fabric
• Pupae (8–40 days): Larvae spin silk-and-fiber cocoons where they transform into adults
• Adults (2–4 weeks): Do not eat or damage fabric; their role is to mate and lay eggs, restarting the cycle

Clothes moths reproduce quickly, but you can interrupt the cycle early with targeted, plant-powered tools. Dr. Killigan’s Clothing Moth Traps use a pheromone lure to attract and trap male moths, helping reduce new egg-laying; for best results, place one trap high on your closet rod and another low to the ground to cover different activity levels. If you’re already seeing larvae or fresh fabric damage, pair traps with Six Feet Under Plant-Powered Insect Spray. Used together, these tools help you stop the cycle sooner and protect vulnerable natural fibers before more damage appears.

Why are clothes moths active in my home?

Clothes moth activity usually comes down to a few conditions that make it easy for eggs to hatch and larvae to feed:

• Warmth + humidity can speed development
  
• Long-stored natural fibers give them a quiet place to grow
• Food sources (keratin fibers, plus body oils or food stains) make fabrics more attractive
• Hidden edges (rug borders, baseboards, drawers, closet corners) protect larvae and cocoons

Clothes moth activity by season

Clothes moth activity shifts with the seasons, but indoor infestations don’t fully stop. Development speed and visibility change in response to temperature and humidity.

Spring

• Eggs laid earlier in the year begin hatching as indoor temperatures rise
• Larval feeding begins quietly; because eggs are attached to the fiber, larvae start eating exactly where they hatch
• This is when many people first notice fresh damage from winter-stored clothes

Summer

• Peak activity period in most homes
• Warm, humid conditions accelerate egg hatching—sometimes in as little as 4 days
• Multiple life cycle stages may overlap, leading to rapid, concentrated and widespread fabric damage

Fall

• Adults seek out undisturbed fabrics as people rotate seasonal wardrobes
• Eggs are commonly laid in sweaters, coats and rugs being stored away
• Infestations often begin now but go unnoticed until later

Winter

• Development slows in cooler, drier homes but does not fully stop
• Eggs can remain hidden and hatch later in storage trunks or spare rooms, especially when indoor conditions warm up
• Damage often appears "out of nowhere" when items are unpacked or moved for the holidays

Pro tip: Plan for one to two full cycles of cleaning + monitoring with Clothing Moth Traps to catch the next wave, not just today’s adults.

What are clothes moths?

Clothes moths are small, winged insects that thrive in dark, undisturbed areas of the home. They’re drawn to natural fibers because these materials provide both food and a safe place to lay their eggs. While the adults are highly visible, it is their keratin-eating larvae that are responsible for the irregular holes found in natural-fiber garments and rugs.

The two most common culprits are the webbing clothes moth and the case-bearing clothes moth—and they leave slightly different clues, which you’ll learn to spot below.

Clothes moth life cycle: Stage-by-stage

Clothes moths move through the same four phases each cycle: egg → larva → pupa → adult.

Here’s what happens in each phase:

Egg stage: hidden and fast to hatch

Females lay 40–50 tiny, pearly-white eggs tucked into natural fibers where they remain protected from light and movement.

Larval stage: the destructive phase

Once eggs hatch, larvae begin feeding immediately; they chew steadily through keratin-rich fabrics—wool, silk, cashmere, fur and feathers—leaving behind patchy thinning and the signature tattered holes associated with infestations. The longer this stage lasts, the more extensive the damage becomes.

Pupal stage: hidden cocoons

When fully fed, larvae retreat into a cocoon made of silk, fibers and frass (droppings). Inside this sealed shelter, the larva transforms into an adult moth. Cocooned pupae are often tucked into carpet edges, garment folds, drawer corners or under furniture—making them easy to miss during routine cleaning.

Adult stage: reproduction only

Adult clothes moths do not eat and cause no damage. Their sole purpose is to mate and continue the cycle. Females begin laying eggs within days of emerging, often in the same stored fabrics where they developed as larvae, then die shortly after egg-laying. Males may survive several more weeks to continue mating.

Where do clothes moths lay eggs?

Females look for quiet, undisturbed spots where their offspring will have immediate access to food. They press their tiny eggs deep into the weave of a fabric. A natural, gelatinous coating helps each egg cling to the material so it stays in place even through light handling.

Because they avoid light and movement, you are most likely to find their eggs in:

• Long-term storage: Folded knits in drawers, trunks or storage boxes that sit stacked and compressed
• Deep closet corners: Wool coats, suits and dense knits hanging at the back of a wardrobe
• Fixed textiles: The underside of upholstered furniture cushions or along the edges of thick rugs and carpets (especially under heavy furniture)
• Animal-based decor: Sheepskins, decorative felts or feathered items that aren't regularly cleaned or moved

This "attachment" is why garments that never move are the first to show damage.

Webbing vs. case-bearing larvae: What’s the difference?

While all clothes moth larvae destroy fabric, the two most common species leave behind different clues. Identifying which one is in your closet helps you know exactly what to look for during a deep clean.

Webbing clothes moth larvae

These blind larvae are "homebodies" that stay hidden as they feed. They spin stationary silk patches or tubes made of silk, fibers and frass (droppings).

• The webbing is fixed in one place and often matches the color of the fabric, making it very hard to see
• You’ll typically find irregular holes or grazed patches directly underneath these silken patches

Case-bearing clothes moth larvae

These larvae are "travelers." They carry a portable, silken case (like a tiny sleeping bag) made from the fibers they are currently eating.

• You may see a tiny, moving "fiber tube" crawling across a rug or up a wall. The larva stays tucked inside, only extending its head to feed
• Because they move around, the damage can be more scattered across a garment or carpet

How destructive are moth larvae?

The level of damage depends on a few key factors:

• Material vulnerability: High-quality fibers—like cashmere, angora and wool—show damage much faster than coarser wools
• Usage frequency: Items that sit undisturbed for months are at significantly higher risk than those worn or shaken out regularly
• Volume of food: The more keratin-rich material (wool, silk, fur, feathers) you store in one spot, the faster an infestation can grow

Pocket fact: Clothes moth larvae can consume up to 2,700 times their body weight during their feeding stage—according to Learn About Nature. This massive appetite is why just a few larvae can turn a favorite sweater into a patchwork of holes in a single season.

Note: While they prefer natural fibers, larvae may also damage synthetics or cotton when they’re blended with wool or soiled/contaminated.

Signs of clothes moth damage

Often, the first sign of a problem isn’t the moth itself—it’s what you find on (or near) natural-fiber fabrics. If you’re seeing several of the signs below, there may be active larvae feeding in that space.

Fabric damage

• Irregular holes: Soft, uneven edges in wool, cashmere, silk or blends
• Grazed patches: Fibers look thinned, worn or “shaved down” before holes fully form

Biological evidence (the “they’re here” clues)

• Silky webbing or clumped fibers: Fine silk mats/tubes on the surface or underside
• Sand-like specks (frass): Grainy droppings on shelves, in drawers or beneath items
• Larvae or cocoons: Cream-colored larvae in seams/folds or small cocoons tucked into quiet edges

Adult sightings

• Weak fluttering moths: Small tan moths that drift out when you move a garment—often staying close to closets, rugs and baseboards rather than flying into bright, open rooms

Rule of thumb: Holes alone can be old damage. But fresh webbing or frass is often a sign the feeding stage may still be active—so it’s smart to respond sooner rather than later.

Ready for the next step? Follow our complete, room-by-room plan: How to get rid of clothing moths.

How long does the clothes moth pupal stage last?

Once clothes moth larvae finish feeding, they enter the pupal stage—a hidden phase that happens inside a cocoon or case.

What happens during this stage

• Webbing clothes moths cocoon near the fabric they were feeding on, often in the same hidden edges
• Case-bearing clothes moths pupate inside the case they already carry (often stuck to fibers, seams or rug edges)
  

What clothes moth pupae (cocoons) look like

You’re more likely to notice the cocoon/case than the pupa itself. Common clues include:

• Tan to light brown coloring 
• Small, oval or tube-like shape
• Often fibers are stuck to the outside, so it can look like a tiny piece of lint that won't brush away

Why the pupal stage matters

Pupae don’t feed—but they’re the step right before the next round of adult moths. If cocoons stay tucked away, new adults can emerge and restart the life cycle even after you’ve cleaned up visible damage.

Tip: Cocoons are easy to miss because they blend into lint and fibers. During inspections, check rug borders, closet-floor edges, drawer seams and tight gaps behind/under furniture—then remove any cocoons you find so adults don’t emerge and restart the cycle.

Fun Fact: Inside the cocoon/case, the larva breaks down into a soft mass and restructures itself into an adult moth (a process called histolysis).

Adult clothes moths: Behavior & appearance

Seeing adult clothes moths usually means larvae or cocoons are present somewhere nearby, even if you haven’t found them yet.

How adult clothes moths behave

After emerging, adults focus on finding mates. Males use their antennae to detect pheromones released by females, so you may notice them as small moths fluttering briefly in quiet, low-traffic areas—especially when you disturb stored items.

Adult clothes moths typically:

• Fly poorly: short, uneven fluttering instead of strong, direct flight
• Avoid light: they prefer dim, still areas and often retreat into corners
• Stay close to the source: closets, drawers, rug edges, baseboards and furniture seams (not open, bright rooms)

What adult clothes moths look like

Size:

• Most are small—about the size of a grain of rice (roughly 5–8 mm body length)

Color and markings:

• Webbing clothes moths: yellowish-gold with a small tuft of hair on the head
• Case-bearing clothes moths: similar size, often speckled with darker spots and typically lack the tuft
• Both often rest with wings folded tent-like over the body, giving a narrow, tapered shape

Where to look for adult clothes moths

You’re most likely to spot adults:

• When opening rarely used drawers or unpacking stored clothing
• When shaking out or moving natural-fiber items (wool, cashmere, silk, blends)
• In quiet edges of a room (like closet corners or near a rug border) after you move something

Not sure which moth you’re seeing? Start here: Pantry moths vs Clothes moths

How to get rid of clothes moths: Traps, sprays & prevention tips

Once you understand the clothes moth life cycle, the goal is simple: break it at as many stages as possible. That means removing what’s already in your fabrics, interrupting mating and making storage less inviting going forward.

Here’s a simple, steady approach that helps you stop clothes moths early and keep them from cycling back:

1. Start with a deep clean (remove eggs + larvae + fibers)
   Wash or dry clean vulnerable items according to their care labels—especially wool, cashmere, silk and blends. For items that can’t be washed, use heat or freezing where appropriate. Then vacuum thoroughly, paying extra attention to closet floors, drawer seams and rug borders where lint and loose fibers collect.
2. Put traps in every affected space (reduce mating)
   Place Dr. Killigan’s Clothing Moth Traps in closets, wardrobes and storage areas where you have seen activity. The lure helps reduce mating activity while you clean and treat, which can slow the next round of egg-laying.
3. Treat the quiet edges (target where larvae hide)
   If you are seeing larvae, webbing or fresh damage, pair traps with Six Feet Under Plant-Powered Insect Spray. Apply it to edges and seams in the affected area (think perimeter lines and tucked-away corners), following label directions.
4. Protect clean items going forward (make storage less welcoming)
   Store off-season knits and coats in sealed containers or protective garment bags with Cedar Planks. Avoid packing natural fibers tightly in dark, still spaces for long stretches. A quick shake-out, brush or airing helps reduce the “undisturbed” conditions clothes moths prefer.
5. Monitor for 1–2 cycles (catch what you don’t see today)
   Keep traps in place and continue light cleaning in known hotspots for several weeks. Because different life stages can be hidden at the same time, monitoring helps you catch the next wave before it causes new damage.

Explore more

• How to prevent a clothing moth infestation (habits that stop the cycle early)
• Where clothing moths hide and how they get into the home (find the source)
• Do clothing moths actually eat clothes? (what they feed on—and what they ignore)