Moths
Pantry and clothes moth traps — stop the flutter, find the source.
The two moths that bother Kiwi homes are pantry moths (in the flour and grains) and clothes moths (in wool and stored fabrics). Both do real damage — one ruins food, the other ruins jerseys — and both are easy to beat once you find the source.
Ask BuzzyHow to identify moths
Pantry moths are small greyish-brown with coppery wing tips and webby larvae in food. Clothes moths are tiny, golden-tan, and shun light — you'll see them fluttering near wardrobes rather than lamps.
- •Pantry moth — coppery-bronze wings, ~8–10 mm, larvae in grains.
- •Clothes moth — pale gold, ~6 mm, larvae in wool, fur, feathers.
- •Webbing or tiny holes are the main sign.
Are moths harmful?
No bites or stings, but pantry moths contaminate food with webbing and droppings, and clothes moths chew holes in woollens and natural fibres.
Life cycle
Females lay eggs in or near a food source; larvae feed for weeks before pupating. Several generations a year are possible indoors.
Fun fact: Clothes moth larvae feed on keratin — the protein in wool, hair, and feathers — not the fabric itself.
What they feed on
Pantry moth larvae eat cereals, flour, nuts, dried fruit, and pet food. Clothes moth larvae eat wool, silk, fur, and feathers.
How to get rid of moths
Find and bin the source, then trap the adults.
Remove the attraction
- ✓Bin any infested food — don't try to save it.
- ✓Store dry goods in sealed glass or hard plastic.
- ✓Vacuum pantry shelves and wardrobe floors.
- ✓Wash or dry-clean woollens before storing.
Block them out
- ✓Seal cracks in pantry shelving where larvae pupate.
- ✓Use pheromone traps to catch male moths and break breeding.
- ✓Keep wardrobes cool, dry, and well-aired.
- ✓Add a GotchaPest trap near the source to catch stragglers.
Frequently asked questions
Trap smarter with GotchaPest
UV-tough, NZ-made, reusable traps — paired with the app and Buzzy, the world's first AI Trap Buddy.
Other pests we solve
Explore more NZ-specific pest guides and the bee-safe, reusable traps behind each one.
Flies
NZ-made, UV-tough traps that knock down flies without sprays.
Wasps
Bee-safe wasp traps that lure wasps, not our precious pollinators.
Fruit Flies
Reusable fruit fly traps using everyday pantry bait — no chemicals.
Fungus Gnats
Tiny black flies around your houseplants — beat them for good.
Mosquitoes
Reduce backyard biting with simple, chemical-free traps.