What do carpet moths look like? (+ photos)

The phrase “Carpet Moth” is a bit of a misnomer here in the UK because what we call “Carpet Moth” when we have moths eating our carpets is actually not a carpet moth in most cases. In most situations, the moth that’s chowing down on British carpets is in fact one of two types of clothes moth!

We have two closely related species of clothes moth here in the UK that enjoy eating woollen carpets, as well as clothes. These are the Webbing Clothes Moth and the Case Bearing Clothes Moth.

True carpet moths are in fact better known as Tapestry Moths, and while they are very common in the USA and Mexico, they are not super common here in Britain.

All three types of moths enjoy eating keratin-rich fibres, which include anything made of wool (including carpets), silk, and fur; hence each of these moths gets dubbed “Carpet Moths” from time to time, depending on what they’ve been discovered to have been eating.

Since you’ve come here looking to find out what carpet moths look like, it’s only fair that we give you pictures of all three types of these carpet-munching little critters.

If you have discovered any of the 3 types of moths below in your UK business, call Merlin to help you get rid of them quickly and effectively. If you have found any of these moths in your home, be sure to follow our guide on how to get rid of them DIY style.