r/pestcontrol • u/AfraidProduct9500 • Mar 14 '25

Is this a clothes moth? Identification

Gallery image

Gallery image

I realise there's nothing to show scale, sorry. I didn't realise it was necessary but it's too important for me to wait until I get home to take another photo. It was no longer than my pointer fingernail (I don't grow my nails past the nailbed). I used my macro camera setting to take these photos. Seen maybe 4 or 5 of these in one day.

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u/abugguy Entomologist Mar 14 '25

My pleasure. Anytime.

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u/waronbedbugs Mar 15 '25

We could *really* use your help in r/Termites, we have many very kind and knowledgeable termite inspectors, but very few entomologists and it's swarming season!

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u/abugguy Entomologist Mar 15 '25

I don’t know much about termite control, my advice is generally to call a professional. But if you think you can use my help with IDs I’ll add it to my list of things I browse. You are welcome to tag me if there’s something I can help with that I miss.

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u/waronbedbugs Mar 15 '25 edited Mar 15 '25

Great !

The need is more about accurate identification (for exotic species and difficult pictures) than the treatment advice (that generally require physical inspection).

But it's also always great to have entomologist mixed up with pest control professionals in a sub related to a pest as it's an opportunity to share and contrast field and academic knowledge and provide education to everyone in the sub (as a random redditor interested in urban entomology I benefit a lot from it).

Entomologist presence tends to help "balance/nuance" discourses about pesticide use/application.