Felt slippers and a moth infestation

[hughtrimble]

I have a pair of Mongolian felt slippers which I bought long ago, and for the past couple of years I've not been able to find them.

Where I failed in my search, the moths evidently succeeded to the benefit of their offspring. Circa 20 pupae sheaths/cocoons (made of digested wool?) and a few dried up pupae, of presumably carpet moths?



Look at those burrows!





Does anyone know what the gritty substance is shown here? Feels almost like sand.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

Moths have been bad this year. I fear for woolens at the back of wardrobes and chests.

 

[Falstaff]

Get rid asap, I had a moth infestation in my kitchen, very difficult to get rid off. The hatched larvae crawled everywhere including into food jars via the thread on lids then ate the food and left cocoons.
I suspect the grit is dried larvae poo, but might be sand from rolling wet wool across the Steppes to turn it into felt, I think not.

 

[hughtrimble]

Moths have been bad this year. I fear for woolens at the back of wardrobes and chests

They do seem to be everywhere. Dislike actively killing them though as they're rather pretty creatures.I

I'm always concerned about my woolens, and am trying some Formula C+ Advanced spray on closet woolens, hoping it'll keep them at bay.

 

[hughtrimble]

Get rid asap, I had a moth infestation in my kitchen, very difficult to get rid off. The hatched larvae crawled everywhere including into food jars via the thread on lids then ate the food and left cocoons.
I suspect the grit is dried larvae poo, but might be sand from rolling wet wool across the Steppes to turn it into felt, I think not.

I am most fearful of a very large rug which was in the same room as these, folded up. Dreading opening that up today.

For the slippers, I've vacuumed them thoroughly and have whacked them in the freezer and will then be spraying down with anti-moth spray. I'm rather fond of these slippers, as the moths clearly were too.

You are right about the grit. Must be their frass (new term for me).

 

[Falstaff]

Would it work to fumigate them in a large/huge plastic bag and one of those greenhouse fumigants. Even better - There's the one we use for fumigating and killing fleas and their eggs in a whole room - they work very well. That way you could also do the cupboard they were in (suggest hanging the rug on/over something, say a chair, so that it gets to both sides of the rug).