Is It a Pantry Moth or a Clothes Moth?
By the Clark Pest Entomology Team
Last updated: October 28, 2026
Quick answer: Gold moths about 1/4 inch long that flutter near closets are clothes moths. Their larvae chew wool, fur and feathers. Larger moths with coppery wings that fly through the kitchen are pantry moths, also called Indian meal moths. Their larvae feed on flour, cereal, nuts and dried fruit. Check where you saw it, then pick your moth below.
Which Moth Is in Your House?
A moth in the closet and a moth in the kitchen are different pests with different fixes. Tap the one that matches what you found. Clark helps homes and businesses across California and Northwestern Nevada.
Webbing Clothes Moth
Gold to tan, with reddish-golden hairs on its head and a wingspan near 1/2 inch. It hides in dark spots like the back of a closet. The larvae feed on wool and other fabric that contains keratin.
Casemaking Clothes Moth
Brownish wings with three faint darker spots on each forewing and a body about 1/4 inch long. UC IPM says its larvae always carry a silken case as they feed. The larvae eat wool and other material that contains keratin.
Indian Meal Moth
Reddish brown wings with a coppery shine and a whitish gray area near the body. It flies through kitchens and pantries. The larvae spin webbing in flour, cereal, nuts and dried fruit.
Angoumois Grain Moth
Off-white to yellowish-tan, with a wingspan of 1/2 to 3/4 inch and a finger-like projection on each hind wing. The larva bores into a whole grain kernel and feeds inside. Barley, corn, oats, rice and rye are its targets.
Mediterranean Flour Moth
Pale gray front wings with two zigzag lines, off-white hind wings and a wingspan of about 1 inch or less. Larvae are pink-white and spin webbing that mats flour and other food together. They also attack cereal, dried fruit, nuts and dry pet food.
Photo credits: Casemaking clothes moth by Patrick Clement via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 2.0. Angoumois grain moth by Clemson University and USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 3.0 US. Mediterranean flour moth by Pekka Malinen, Luomus via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Clothes Moth or Pantry Moth? Quick Tests
Check these clues before you throw out food or clothes. UC IPM says the casemaking clothes moth looks a lot like the webbing clothes moth, so it gets its own column here. Found beetles instead of moths? Clark's beetle guide covers fabric and pantry beetles.
| Clue | Webbing clothes moth | Casemaking clothes moth | Indian meal moth |
|---|
| Size at rest | About 1/4 inch long, with a wingspan near 1/2 inch | Close to the same size as the webbing clothes moth | 1/3 to 2/5 inch long, with a wingspan near 3/5 inch |
|---|
| Color | Gold, with reddish-golden hairs on top of the head | Wings are more brownish with faint dark spots. Head hairs are lighter | Reddish brown wings with a coppery shine on the outer part and whitish gray near the body |
|---|
| How it flies | Flutters. A weak flyer that is not drawn to lights | Flutters like the webbing clothes moth | Food moths fly in a direct, steady line and frequently fly around the house |
|---|
| Where you see it | Close to the infested items, like a dark corner of a closet | Likely near the wool, fur and feather items its larvae feed on | Kitchen and pantry. Larvae can crawl far from the food before they pupate |
|---|
| Larva clue | Silk feeding tubes and webbing patches left on the fabric | Carries a silk case that matches the fabric color. A full-grown case is about 3/8 inch long | White with a greenish or pinkish tint, about 1/2 inch long. Leaves silk threads wherever it crawls |
|---|
| What the larvae eat | Wool, fur, feathers, carpets and upholstered furniture | The same items as the webbing clothes moth | Cereal, flour, cornmeal, rice, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and candy |
|---|
Holes in Wool, Fur and Carpet
What clothes moth damage looks like
The adult moth is not the one that chews. The larva does the damage, and it hides well. UC IPM says damage generally shows up in hidden spots, such as under collars and cuffs, in the creases of upholstered furniture and in carpet beneath furniture. Look for silk tubes or mats with fibers and droppings stuck in them. On fur, look for hairs clipped at the base.
Stains make things worse. Fabric with food, sweat or urine stains is more subject to damage. Rugs and carpets made entirely of synthetic fibers are not affected.
Clean and treat what you found
Wash what you can in water of at least 120 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes. UC IPM calls that the most common and effective way to kill every stage in washable items. Wool that cannot take hot water may need a dry cleaner. A sealed plastic bag in a freezer for several days below 18 degrees F can also control moths, as can 30 minutes in an oven above 120 degrees F if the fabric can take the heat.
Vacuum baseboards, closet corners and the floor under heavy furniture. Throw out the vacuum bag contents right away, because they can hold eggs, larvae or adults. Hang wool in the sun and brush the seams, folds and pockets.
Be careful with mothballs. They are toxic, so keep them away from children and pets. They only work in an airtight container. In open air they only somewhat repel adults, and larvae already on your clothes keep feeding.
Small Moths in the Kitchen
Find the source first
According to UC IPM, pantry pests usually come home inside an infested food package. Small moths flying around the kitchen are often the first sign. The source is commonly an opened package that sat forgotten on a shelf. Webbing in the tight spots of a package or tiny holes in a container point to an infestation.
Only the larvae eat food. They leave silk threads and droppings behind. In a heavy infestation, mature larvae can turn up in parts of the house far from the food, because they travel a good distance to pupate. In warm weather, an Indian meal moth needs about six to eight weeks to pass through its egg, larva and pupa stages.
Clean out the pantry
Throw away any food that shows signs of infestation. Vacuum cracks and corners with a crevice tool, then wash the shelves with soap and water. Store dry food in containers with tight lids, since plastic bags are not adequate. Keep seldom used flour, grains and spices in the freezer if you can.
A pheromone trap made for pantry moths pulls in adult males. Set it where the problem was and check it weekly. Most traps stay effective for about three months. A fresh catch means it is time to inspect your food again.
Skip the spray. UC IPM does not recommend insecticides for pantry pests and warns that spraying on or near food may cause more harm than the pests do.
When to Call a Professional
According to UC IPM, most people can manage clothes moths on their own. Widespread or heavy infestations often need a professional applicator.
Consider calling if a sofa, mattress or pillow is stuffed with hair or feathers. Spraying the outside will not reach moths in the stuffing. UC IPM calls dry ice or a lethal gas treatment the best way to treat those items.
Clark's own guides give the same first step for fabric moths. Confirm the moth is the real cause before you treat. A Clark technician can check what you found, inspect the home and recommend a plan.
Clark's Expert Insight
Catch one moth and look at its head. A clothes moth has small tufts of hair there and a fluttery flight. A food moth has neither. A hand lens and one caught moth tell you which room to clean.
Moth Questions Homeowners Ask
What are the little moths flying around my kitchen?
Most likely Indian meal moths. UC IPM calls them the most common moth found on food products in the home. They are also known as pantry moths or flour moths. Check opened boxes of flour, cereal, nuts and dried fruit first.
What bug eats clothes and wool?
Clothes moth larvae. The webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth feed on wool clothing, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, furs and feathered items. They can also eat synthetic or cotton blends that contain wool.
How big is a clothes moth?
Small. At rest, a clothes moth is only about 1/4 inch long. UC IPM puts the Indian meal moth at 1/3 to 2/5 inch long. A clothes moth also has tufts of hair on its head, and food moths do not.
What is a casemaking clothes moth?
It is a close cousin of the webbing clothes moth. The wings are more brownish with faint dark spots. The larva carries a silk case that takes on the color of the fabric it eats. UC IPM says it is less common and of far less economic importance than the webbing clothes moth.
Do Indian meal moths eat clothes?
No source we checked lists fabric as a food for them. UC IPM lists cereal products, flour, cornmeal, rice, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and candy. Holes in wool or fur point to a clothes moth instead.
Is food with moth webbing safe to eat?
Throw it out. Infested food can be contaminated with insect hairs, droppings, webbing and secretions. Pantry pests can bring in microbes that spoil food, most of all when it is warm and humid.
How fast do clothes moths multiply?
According to UC IPM, a female lays an average of 40 to 50 eggs over 2 to 3 weeks. Eggs hatch in 4 to 10 days in warm weather. Going from egg to egg takes four to six months, and there are usually two generations a year. Heated buildings let them keep developing in winter.