What's eating my carpet?

[mike-t]

Something is eating along the edge of a green, woollen carpet, and has also eaten a few patches right down to the backing further into the room. It leaves wool debris behind but also some white pieces that look like the material left after using a rubber (eraser) on paper. They are about 1mm wide, 4mm long tapered at the ends, soft and without substance but feeling as though made of wool. Under magnification they appear segmented like an earthworm, white but with tiny, random red or brown dots.

Can anyone identify what is causing the damage and suggest a treatment against it?

[jeremiah]

Case moth larvae.

1) Hoover your carpet very thoroughly, round the edges, round and under furniture legs, under anything that may be standing on the floor.

2) Spray with houseplant insecticide (not a very good idea, especially if you have small children or pets.

3) Use a steam cleaner, and hope they cook before the wool turns to felt.

4) Try pheromone traps. Don't stop hoovering.

5) Throw out the carpet and put down vinyl - soft, warm, easy to clean and inedible.

[triops]

Almost certainly a clothes moth, probably Tineola.Check the internet, but probably best to consult a professional to solve the problem. Amazing that these creatures can digest keratin, main constituent of wool.

[mike-t]

Many thanks to Jeremiah and Triops for your speedy replies. As well as hoovering everywhere thoroughly, we have now sprayed the affected area of carpet with a clothes moith killer aerosol whose active ingredient is Cypermethrin. Do you think it will do any good?