Moths

[brockers]

This year I'll be mostly squishing them. I've let them get away with laying their little mothy eggs in my woollies for the last few years, but this year it's war. Having to go to the faff of storing my woollies in a zip-up bag before putting them in a drawer, I guess was the final straw. And having to hang mothballs around my bedroom makes me feel like an old lady.

Have you noticed an increase in moth activity in the last couple of years?

 

[Hacienda71]

I used to get them until a couple of years ago when I declared war on them after they decided to munch on a Saville Row and an Aquascutum suit that I had . Got a load of lavender form my mums garden dried it and shoved it in a plastic bag at the bottom of the wardrobe I also stuck in some cedar fragrance moth repellant ball type things from the dry cleaners. Touch wood, fingers crossed no major attacks since then. They can do a load of damage though. The annoying thing is they seem to be attracted to natural fibres which tend to cost more.

 

[ColinJ]

I went on holiday a few years ago and accidentally left my attic bedroom light left on and the Velux window on the latch so there was a small gap. I came back to find hundreds of small moths in the house.

I killed as many as I could but they had obviously already laid eggs because they have re-emerged every summer since. The little buggers have eaten great chunks of my stair carpet and several woollen jumpers.

Fortunately they do not like man-made fibres or I would have lost hundreds of pounds worth of cycling clothing which was sitting alongside the nibbled woollens!

I had a major clear out over the winter but is possible that there is still an infestation under the carpet.

If the moths come back again this year, the gloves will come off - I'll Nuke them from orbit! (Okay, strictly it will be chemical warfare - I'll blitz the house with something nasty and go for an all-day bike ride!)

 

[MarkF]

Have you noticed an increase in moth activity in the last couple of years?

No, the opposite, definitely a decrease over the past decade, good, I have Mottephobia, started as a child when a big bugger landed on my back one summer, fluttering it's wings driving me nuts, I ran inside and could see it in the mirror but couldn't reach it, had a big tongue that slid in and out like a tortoise all charlied up, I went apeshit.

I've crashed a motorbike when one stuck to my visor and crashed car when I found one inside that I thought was outside, feck 'em, I want them all dead.

 

[Campfire]

I have waged war on them after finding some nibblings in a cashmere coat. I have put best woollies in plastic bags tucked up with mothballs. I was wearing a sweater the other day and Mr Campfire remarked on the smell. It does wear off but it's a bit of a turn-off I suppose. Still, better than holey jumpers. Sods law would be they would go for your best ones and not the manky ones you use for gardening.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Only a small number of species actually eat clothes, the rest will be fine, so, no I DON'T want them all dead - a bit like Bees, without them then our world would be a lot less rich.


Only total spazzies go about killing all insects anyway.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

No, the opposite, definitely a decrease over the past decade, good, I have Mottephobia, started as a child when a big bugger landed on my back one summer, fluttering it's wings driving me nuts, I ran inside and could see it in the mirror but couldn't reach it, had a big tongue that slid in and out like a tortoise all charlied up, I went apeshit.

I've crashed a motorbike when one stuck to my visor and crashed car when I found one inside that I thought was outside,

Tell me, what do you think it is going to do??
It sounds like a real shame as it sounds like you had a lovely interesting big Hawkmoth land on you. Big, but totally harmless.

It is a bit like the big girls who hate spiders - WHAT EXACTLY IS IT GOING TO DO, EAT YOU??

Nice to see the 'Silly season' is once again upon us.

Oh and by the way, do you think I don't know what I am talking about? I have a thing about buttons, but I at least realise that it downright stupid and I will come to no harm if I wear a shirt.

Do I want the death of all buttons?? no, because I am not stupid.

Why oh why do people let these things control them?? I just don't get it.

ONLY A TINY AMOUNT OF MOTHS EAT YOUR CLOTHES!

 

[Hacienda71]

I have mottephobia as well. Mine is only with big moths. Hawk moths and similar. I know they can't do me any harm, but I have a totally irrational fear of them. I can pick up a large spider or a snake with no problem, but a large moth flitting around my head leaves me in a mess, inexplicable, but that is why it is an irrational phobia. So I can totally relate to Markf on this. I don't mind large butterflies so I think my phobia must be down to the way the moths fly when disoriented by artificial light.

 

[funnymummy]

I bought some wooden cedar balls that you put in drawers or can tie onto coat hangers... So far my woolies have stayed safe.
I do keep seasonal clothes in Vac bags because it saves so much space, so come summer all winter bits get zipped up & vacumed, the stored under the bed & visa versa so this proebaly helps too x

 

[MarkF]

Mad Doug, a rant has gotta be funny.............of course I think they are going to eat/kill me that is why I am frightened of them.

I have mottephobia as well. Mine is only with big moths. Hawk moths and similar. I know they can't do me any harm, but I have a totally irrational fear of them. I can pick up a large spider or a snake with no problem, but a large moth flitting around my head leaves me in a mess, inexplicable, but that is why it is an irrational phobia. So I can totally relate to Markf on this. I don't mind large butterflies so I think my phobia must be down to the way the moths fly when disoriented by artificial light.

This sums it up, the "flutter" is not smooth like a butterfly and they hold no fear for me, spiders and wasps neither, can't think of an insect or animal that "bothers" me, I like to grab the house spiders and frighten the kids (hope they don't fighten me with moths when they get older), it's just mottephobia.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I have Mottephobia...

And I always thought that was a fear of Ian Hunter!

 

[Fnaar]

I had no idea it was called mottephobia... but I'm shoot scared of the buggers... never crashed a car or owt, but if one is in my room, it must go out the window/die* before I can sleep... it's that unpredictability, basically. Can't remember when I first noticed it, but certainly as a teen I was wary of them.

*and I hate killing animals for no reason, so sorry, moths.

 

[mr Mag00]

moths dont eat your clothes its the larvae and only one species which are very rare due to the moth balls and most clothes are synthetic.

 

[brockers]

From a behavioural perspective, I think these phobias develop when you've been put into an emotionally fragile or vulnerable state (invariably in childhood) and at the same time had an inconvenient encounter with something which normally wouldn't phase you. This becomes an automatic and difficult-to-change association in later life. I'm a bit like that with mice these days.

(A shame though there isn't a benevolent Irishman around to lure you mottephobes to a Tibetan Temple where you can learn the fighting arts of the ancients and confront your fear of the fluttering beasties. Perhaps this could lead you to getting costumes made up with padding and everything, and go around avenging....etc )


funnymummy - yes, I think those cedar balls could be effective - according to the internetz, they give off an oil which can kill the small larvae (which feed on the fibres?). In the meantime, it's a chore having to pick my woollen clothes up off the floor and put them away in bags. Goes against my slovenly nature !

 

[MarkF]

And I always thought that was a fear of Ian Hunter!

G.r.o.a.n



Won't sleep tonight...............