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  • 1.  Webbing Clothes Moths- UV Blacklight

    Posted 07-02-2025 16:29

    Hello Everyone,

    I recently learned that UV Blacklights have the potential to attract webbing clothes moths, and that some people have had success using them as a lure/trap.  

    We are considering testing one of these UV light traps in a non-collection area and seeing what kind of results we get.  If there is anyone out there with personal experience that can speak to the level of effectiveness that a UV light trap has on webbing clothes moths, I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

    Thanks!

    -Todd   



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    Todd Holmberg
    Collections Maintenance Technician
    Minneapolis Institute of Art
    Minneapolis
    United States
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  • 2.  RE: Webbing Clothes Moths- UV Blacklight

    Posted 07-03-2025 11:15

    Hi Tod

    While many insects we try to manage in museums are attracted to light the webbing clothes moth and case making clothes moth are photophobic and will not show up in a trap set near a UV lamp. Pheromones for moth traps was marginally helpful when I looked into alternatives. Nothing is as effective as a thorough examination of all collection items thought to be vulnerable, followed by re-housing and a good housekeeping program. Items found to have evidence of activity are then isolated and fumigated before being cleaned and re-housed. A great resource on the topics of prevention, identification, treatment and monitoring of pests can be found at museumpests.net. 

    Best wishes,

    Steve



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    Steven Pine
    Principle, Decorative Arts Conservator
    Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent
    Sugar Land
    United States
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  • 3.  RE: Webbing Clothes Moths- UV Blacklight

    Posted 07-03-2025 13:31
    Steve-

    Thanks for this information.  Yes- I too for years have always been under the impression that webbing clothes moths are most associated with "dark and undisturbed areas" and will avoid lights, but I recently came across this info for WCM on the museumpest.net website https://museumpests.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Webbing-Clothes-Moth-10-21-19.pdf and I noticed it says:

      "They dislike sunlight but are attracted to certain wavelengths on the light spectrum. They have been known to land on the wall adjacent to certain lamps or fly in front of the television screen during the evening."  

    Reading this made me curious, so I reached out to another IPM group and someone got back to me with a picture of a UV- black light trap they use, and it had quite a few WCM stuck inside.  It will be interesting to hear if anyone else in IPM roles have had first hand personal experience with UV black lights on WCM.  If the results seem to be positive, I feel like these lights could possibly be another tool in the tool box for WCM in certain types of non collection areas.

    -Todd



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Webbing Clothes Moths- UV Blacklight

    Posted 07-03-2025 11:15

    Hi Todd,

    As the acting C2C Care community monitor, I'd like to thank you for posting this question to the community. I've found conflicting information about webbing clothes moths being attracted to UV light. Cameo states that they are not but Museum Pests states they are attracted to "certain wavelengths on the light spectrum," but do not define which wavelengths. I'd be interested to see what your testing reveals!

    Hopefully our community members will be able to share thoughts and experiences on the effectiveness of UV for pest control.



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    Sharon Fickeissen
    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
    Senior Library Conservation Technician
    Hagley Museum & Library
    Wilmington DE
    sfickeissen@hagley.org
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