Brown moths can be a nuisance in homes across North America. While some species are harmless, others can cause damage to fabrics, food, and plants. Learning to identify different types of brown moths, understanding their habits, and using integrated pest management techniques can help prevent and control infestations.
What Are Brown Moths?
Brown moths comprise a diverse group of species from several moth families. Many are varying shades of brown, tan, gray, or rusty-red. They range in size from tiny micro-moths to large silk moths with four-inch wingspans. Most brown moths are nocturnal and hide during the day.
Some of the most common brown moth groups include
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Cutworms – Dull gray, brown, or black moths with up to 2-inch wingspans. The larvae feed on plant stems and roots.
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** Owlet moths** – Small brown moths less than 1.5 inches long. The caterpillars feed on plants, grains, fabrics, and stored foods.
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Tussock moths – Fuzzy-bodied moths in brown gray, white or yellow. Caterpillars defoliate trees.
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Prominent moths – Large moths with wingspans over 2 inches. Caterpillars eat tree leaves.
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Pyralid moths – Small gray or brown moths; larvae eat fabrics, grains, dried foods.
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Geometer moths – Slender gray or brown moths that resemble twigs when resting.
Why Are Brown Moths a Problem?
While most adult moths do not cause any damage, the larvae of some species can wreak havoc in homes, gardens, and forests. Common problems include:
Fabric damage – Clothes moths and other textile-feeding species can ruin wool, silk, cashmere, felt, or synthetic fabrics. They leave behind holes and trails of excrement.
Stored food infestations – Grain moths, flour moths, and pantry moths contaminate stored grains, cereals, pet foods, nuts, dried fruits, and many other pantry items. Larvae produce silken webbing and frass.
Crop destruction – Cutworms and armyworms destroy vegetable and grain crops by severing seedling stems. Tent caterpillars and other tree-feeders defoliate forests and ornamental trees.
Allergic reactions – Exposure to moth scales, cocoons, and frass provokes asthma and allergic symptoms in some people. Moth larvae may also sting or bite.
Identifying Brown Household Moths
Pinpointing the exact species is crucial for successful control. Here are some common household brown moths:
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Indianmeal moths – Pale gray-brown wings with coppery sheen and dark streak on outer margin. Larvae infest grains and cereals.
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Mediterranean flour moths – Gray forewings with telltale silvery markings. Larvae leave webbing in infested foods.
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Brown house moths – Light brown wings with dark zigzag markings. Feed on grains, flours, seeds, textiles, and carpets.
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Clothes moths – Yellowish to golden brown; larvae tunnel through natural fabrics and feathers.
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Drugstore beetle moths – Plain light brown; larvae bore into dried foods and museum specimens.
Pay attention to where moths are found and the type of damage occurring. Capture a sample in a jar for identification. Consult an extension agent if unsure. Act quickly, as moth problems can rapidly escalate once established.
Preventing Brown Moth Issues
Prevention is the best defense against moth headaches. Recommended tactics include:
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Inspect all new dried foods like grains, cereals, pet food, nuts, and birdseed for signs of infestation before purchase and storage. Reject any suspect items.
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Store susceptible pantry goods in airtight glass, metal, or heavy plastic containers. This denies moths access.
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Use plastic storage totes or sealed bags for out of season woolens and other untreated natural fiber clothing. Add cedar blocks or moth balls as added insurance.
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Vacuum and clean pantries, drawers, and closets regularly to eliminate food spills and lint that can attract moths.
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Discard unused bird nests, rodent nesting materials, natural holiday decorations and similar inviting moth habitats.
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Monitor for moths using pheromone lures and sticky traps. This provides an early warning to start control measures before populations explode.
Getting Rid of Existing Brown Moth Infestations
If moths gain a foothold despite best prevention efforts, act immediately using these tactics:
Pantry moths – Discard all infested items, scrub shelves with soapy water then a borax solution, place pheromone traps nearby to catch adults. Store uninfested items in airtight containers.
Clothes moths – Have woolen items professionally cleaned, then store in cedar-lined bags or chests. Use pheromone lures to monitor for moths. Consider treating storage areas with insect growth regulator (IGR) sprays that prevent moth larvae from maturing.
Carpets and rugs – Thoroughly vacuum all floors and baseboards to remove larvae and frass. Space pheromone traps around affected rooms. Consider application of IGR sprays. Professionally clean all susceptible wool or silk rugs.
Tree-feeding species – Prune away egg masses on branches. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sprays while caterpillars are small. Add sticky barrier bands around trunks to prevent climbing. Contact an arborist for serious infestations.
For serious infestations, fumigation by a licensed pest control firm may be required. Always use traps afterward to monitor that all moths have been eliminated. Be vigilant in maintaining prevention habits to avoid repeat issues.
Protecting Your Home From Brown Moths
Brown moths can slip into homes without notice. But through vigilance, proactive prevention habits, and immediate control when spotted, you can protect furnishings, clothing, pantries, and trees from damage. Inspect new items carefully, maintain cleanliness, monitor with pheromone traps, and act at the first signs of infestation. With integrated pest management, brown moths don’t have to become a brown problem in your household.
How to identify moths
With around 2,500 species of moth in the UK, theres an amazing amount of diversity to be discovered! Moths dont just come out at night. Some species fly during the day, especially on warm and sunny days. There are actually very few differences between moths and butterflies and they all belong to one group – Lepidoptera.
Description: The black forewings have striking creamy-white stripes and the hindwings are bright red, yellow or orange. Flies on warm days. When & where: July-September. A range of habitats including rough ground, coastal cliffs and gardens. On the south coast of England, but rapidly spreading north, with a strong London population. Read more
Description: Each black forewing has a red line and two red dots, and the hindwings are bright red. Flies in sunshine and is attracted to light at night. When & where: May-August. A variety of habitats, including sand dunes, heathlands and gardens. Caterpillars feed on ragwort.
Cinnabar moth (c) Vaughn Matthews
Description: Black with slender wings. Each forewing has six red spots (the two closest to the head often look like one red smudge). Flies in the day, visiting flowers like a butterfly. When & where: June-August. Flowery grassland throughout the UK. Caterpillars feed on birds-foot trefoil.
Description: Has iridescent black forewings with white and yellow spots, and red hindwings with black markings. Flies during the day. When & where: June-July. Favours damp habitats like riverbanks and fens, but sometimes visits gardens. Most common in the south-west of England and Wales.
Scarlet tiger ©Malcolm Storey
Scarlet tiger ©Vaughn Matthews
Description: Brown with a metallic silver y-shaped mark on each forewing. One of the most commonly seen day-flying moths, easily disturbed from vegetation and often seen flying frantically as it feeds on flowers. When & where: Mostly May-September, but can be seen in other months. An immigrant that is sometimes found in large numbers on the coast, but can be seen almost anywhere, including gardens.
Silver Y by Corinne Welch
Silver Y ©Bruce Shortland
Silver Y ©Margaret Holland
Description: An elegant pale yellow moth, easily identified by the pointed tail on each hindwing. Flies from dusk and is attracted to light. When & where: June-August. Sometimes second generation September-October. Widespread in most of UK. Found in a variety of habitats including parks and gardens.
Swallow-tailed moth ©Vaughn Matthews
Swallow tailed moth by Dave Appleton
Description: A bright yellow moth with a chestnut line along the leading edge of each forewing, a mark at the tip, and a brown-edged white dash. Sometimes disturbed from vegetation in the day, flies just before dusk and comes to light at night. When & where: April-October. Common across most of the UK. In woodland, scrub, hedgerows and gardens. Read more
Brimstone moth ©Amy Lewis
Description: A broad-winged, green moth with dark blotches and wavy, white lines across the wings. Flies at dusk and is easily disturbed from vegetation during the day. When & where: May-September. Common across the UK, in most habitats including parks and gardens.
Green carpet ©Amy Lewis
Green carpet moth by Iain H Leach
Description: A large green moth with wavy white lines across the wings. The wings have wavy edges. When resting, the wings are spread and raised slightly like a butterfly. Flies at night and is attracted to lights. When & where: June-August. Common across the UK, in many habitats including woodland, scrubby grassland, parks and gardens.
Large emerald © Vaughn Matthews
Large emerald © Brian Eversham
Description: A brownish moth with wavy crosslines on the forewings and orange-yellow on the hindwings. Flies on warm days, often with other species of moth and dingy skipper butterflies. When & where: May-July. Common and widespread in southern England. Found on flowery grasslands, including meadows, verges and woodland.
Burnet companion ©Tom Hibbert
Burnet companion by Chris Lawrence
Description: A distinctive moth that rests with its wings creased. Olive green with pink-brown arrow-shaped markings. Often seen resting on vegetation, walls and fences in the day. When & where: Mainly May-October. Throughout the UK, in most habitats including parks and gardens. Read more
Angle shades ©Tom Hibbert
Description: A large moth with a wingspan up to 12cm, blackish thorax and pink and black banded abdomen. Forewings are brown and hindwings are pink and black. Feeds on flowers at night and comes to light. When & where: June-July. Common in southern England and south-west Wales, more scattered further north. A variety of habitats including gardens and hedgerows.
Description: A large, variable moth. The long, rounded forewing has a distinctive black mark on the leading edge, near the tip. The hindwings are bright yellow with a black band. Often comes to light. When & where: June-October. Found almost anywhere, but most commonly in open grassy areas.
Large yellow underwing © Emma Lusby
Description: The forewings and chunky body are grey-brown, with orange hindwings. Flits from flower to flower, hovering to feed like a hummingbird. When & where: Mostly April-September, but can be seen in other months. An immigrant from southern Europe and north Africa. Most common on south coast but can turn up almost anywhere.
Hummingbird hawkmoth by Bruce Shortland
Elephant hawkmoth by Corinne Welch
Description: Brown with white crosslines, orange blotches and scalloped wings. Adults hibernate over winter and are sometimes found in outbuildings or caves. When & where: August-November and March-June after hibernation. Throughout the UK, in woodland, parks, gardens and other places the food plants are found such as willows and poplars.
Description: A small moth that has dark purple forewings with orange markings. The markings can be quite variable, but the most consistent one is a large orange blotch, sometimes with smaller orange spots speckled around it. The hindwings are dark with a short golden band that rarely reaches the edges of the wing. When & where: Adults fly in two generations – one from April to June, a second from July to September. Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland and the Inner Hebrides.
Mint moth on wild marjoram © Leanne Manchester
Mint moth by Margaret Holland
Chimney sweeper © Rachel Scopes
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The Symbolism of Moths
FAQ
What are the brown moths in my house?
The Brown House Moth, or, Hofmannophilam pseudospretella, is in the class Oecophoridae. This common household pest is thought to have originated in Asia. They are considered serious pests in domestic and commercial settings because they have destructive larvae that can feed on all kinds of materials including feathers!
Are brown moths harmful?
It is important to note that brown house moths are not directly harmful to people, but they can be bothersome pests.
What type of moth is brown?
Brown House Moth Identification
Hofmannophila Pseudospretella has reddish-brown or brownish-gray coloring, along with patches of brown and black. The wings have spotting throughout that is darker than the main body color.
Why is the Atlas moth illegal?
Atlas Moths: What You Need to Know
Regardless of where they came from, they are federally quarantined pests, meaning it’s illegal to obtain, harbor, rear or sell them without a permit.
What is a brown house moth?
Then it’s time to learn more about this particular species and how to get rid of them. The Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila Pseudospretella) is a common House Moth originally from Asia. In the 1840s, this moth was introduced to Europe, eventually spreading through the British Isles, and also into America. Brown House Moths are small and unassuming.
What are the different types of brown moths?
Many types of moths are brown. Small and large brown moths can be found in North America. They can be established species or new types of moths from other parts of the world. Almost all US states host brown moths as they feed on the leaves of common trees, flowers, fruits, and plants. Brown moths come in different sizes.
Do Brown House moths pupate?
In order to pupate, Brown House Moth larvae require a high amount of humidity, around 80%. Otherwise, they won’t continue with their development. Since Brown House Moths are more destructive than other types of House Moths, learning how to remove them from your home is important.
What causes tiny brown moths in a home?
There are a few likely culprits when it comes to tiny brown moths in a home: Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella) are a common invasive pantry pest. As their name implies, they feed on grains and grain products like cereals, rice, cornmeal, dried pet food, nuts, and more.
Are brown house moths the same as clothes moths?
Small brown moths that get into your home can all look alike. However, clothes moths look very similar and do the same type of damage to your fabrics. However, brown house moths are typically larger and darker than the more uniformly pale clothes moths. Either way, the treatment for both moths is similar.
What are the smallest types of brown moths?
One of the smallest types of brown moths in North America is Batman Moths (Coelostathma discopunctana). This is a light brown species that shows red spots or dark brown red spots along its wings. A short wingspan is specific to this species which may reach a maximum of 11mm wingspan.