How Big Are Clothes Moths

Clothes moths are small, 1/2-inch moths that are beige or buff-colored. They have narrow wings that are fringed with small hairs. They are often mistaken for grain moths infesting stored food items in kitchens and pantries. Unlike some other types of moths, clothes moths are seldom seen because they avoid light.

How big is a common clothes moth?

But the common (or webbing) clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) is one of the most aggressive species and can be found across the world. These moths are small – only 5–8 mm long – and scuttle around, only flying when it’s warm.

Can you see clothes moths?

Moths don’t eat clothes; their larvae do. They hatch within a few weeks of being laid. “When they first hatch, they’re only a millimetre long and they burrow into your clothes, so you don’t see them. It’s not until they get bigger that you see the evidence,” says Pinniger.