For your Home
Login or register for the customer portal
© 2025 Rentokil Initial plc and subject to the conditions in the legal statement.
There are many different types of fabric pest insect species that cause trouble throughout the U.S. Some of the most common fabric pests can damage household materials like clothing, carpets, and furniture, making it important to recognize and manage these pests early.
So, what are the most common types of fabric pests found in homes? Frequently encountered species include:
Rarely encountered species include:
- Brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)
- Furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes)
- Black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor)
Learn more below about the common fabric pests found in the U.S.
Common types of fabric pests found in homes
Different species of fabric pests show up in homes in different ways. Spotting the signs early, like damaged fabrics, shed larval skins, or dead insects hidden in storage areas, can help you take steps before the problem grows.
So, how can you identify different species of fabric pests by their appearance, lifecycle, and habits? Often, these small insects look and behave very similarly, and they can be very tricky to locate. Take a look at some of their identifiable characteristics below.
Case-bearing clothes moth
(Tinea pellionella)
Appearance
- Approx. seven to 10mm long.
- Forewings are silvery-buff with 3 dark spots.
Lifecycle
- Lifecycle completion usually takes three to eight months.
- Larva up to 10mm long when fully grown.
- Creamy white with dark head.
- Usually protected in a case made of silk and fibers of feeding material.
Habits
- Can cause damage to woolens, felts, upholstered furniture, clothes, etc.
.webp)
Webbing clothes moth
(Tineola bisselliella)
Appearance
- Approx. eight to 10mm long.
- Golden buff in color.
- Wings are fringed with no markings.
- Wingspan about 12mm.
Lifecycle
- Completes in three to eight months.
- Larva up to 12mm long when fully grown. Often found in a network of silken tubing.
Habits
- Can damage a variety of animal products, including wool, fur, skins, clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and felt.
- Larvae may be difficult to spot as they hide in a network of silken tubing.
.webp)
Varied carpet beetle
(Anthrenus verbasci)
Appearance
- Approx. two to three mm long.
- Mottled yellow, white, and black.
- Oval shape similar to a ladybird.
Lifecycle
- Complete in nine to 12 months.
- Larva up to four to five mm long when fully fed.
Habits
- Damages carpets, underfelt, woollens, fur, feathers.
- Can attack stored items such as cereals and meat products, which serve as food sources for larvae.
.webp)
Black carpet beetle
(Attagenus unicolor)
Appearance
- Approx. three to five mm long.
- Shiny black to dark brown, with brownish legs.
Lifecycle
- Completes in six to 12 months.
- Larva up to seven mm long when fully fed.
- Reddish brown, covered with stiff bristles.
Habits
- Relatively widespread and destructive.
- Often associated with bird-nesting in roof cavities.
- Amongst others, leather, silk, carpet, and felt are all at risk of infestation.
.webp)
Furniture carpet beetle
(Anthrenus flavipes)
Appearance
- Approx. two to three-and-a-half mm long.
- Mottled yellow, white, and black markings.
Lifecycle
- Completes lifecycle in nine to 12 months.
- Dark color larvae up to 5 mm long when fully fed.
- Wide at the front, narrow towards the rear.
Habits
- Can cause damage to upholstered furniture, carpets, and some stored food products.
- Not as destructive as black and variegated carpet beetles.
Ehrlich’s fabric pest control can help with identification, removal, and offer guidance and advice on how to prevent infestations of common fabric pests from developing.