Do you have moths in your kitchen or closet? You don’t have to resort to chemicals straight away. There are tiny insects that offer you a natural, effective and sustainable solution against moths. These little helpers eliminate the problem at the root – without any poison or sticky traps.
This is what your uninvited guests look like
You can easily recognize the differences between clothes moths 🛒 and food moths 🛒. Clothes moths wear a straw-yellow, smooth dress, while their relatives from the pantry have reddish-brown wings with a pattern. Some destroy your favorite clothes, others infest flour, muesli or chocolate. In both cases, you should act quickly – because moths multiply at breakneck speed.
Why parasitic wasps work so well
Ichneumon wasps start exactly where it counts: with the moths’ eggs. The tiny insects (about 0.4 mm in size) lay their own eggs directly in the moth eggs, preventing the larvae from hatching in the first place. Once the work is done, they disintegrate without leaving any residue. They are absolutely harmless to you, your children and pets. They do not sting, fly or leave their surroundings – they do their job quietly and silently.
How to use ichneumon wasps against moths correctly
First it’s time to clean up! In the kitchen: Check all supplies, dispose of suspicious items, clean shelves with vinegar water. In the closet: Shake out clothes, air, empty the wardrobe and clean thoroughly.
Only then place the cards with parasitic wasps – as close as possible to the infested areas. Make sure you place enough cards: on every shelf, in dark corners or between piles of clothes. This is because parasitic wasps crawl, not fly. Their range is about one meter.
How long do you need to be patient?
For food moths, 10 to 12 weeks is usually enough. Clothes moths can be controlled over 12 to 15 weeks. The cards are often delivered to your home at intervals and replaced every two to three weeks. In the case of heavy infestations, a second round may be worthwhile. Maintain a room temperature of at least 20 degrees – otherwise the little helpers will become sluggish.
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Effectively prevent moths – what you can do
To prevent future infestations, you should store food in glass or metal containers and air and clean them regularly. The scent of lavender or cedar wood repels moths, as does consistent stock control. For clothes, airtight boxes or laundry bags help – especially for wool and silk.
Ichneumon wasps against moths – small but incredibly effective
If you want to get rid of moths naturally, you can hardly avoid ichneumon wasps. They attack the pest in a targeted manner, do not use toxins and disappear without a trace. With a little preparation and patience, you can get rid of your uninvited roommates in the long term and sustainably – without any chemicals.
Source: Ökotest
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