Pheromone insect traps for carpet moths are the most effective, environmentally-friendly way of protecting your rugs against damaging moth infestations.

For years we recommended aerosol pesticides to control rug-eating moths. When we learned what aerosol pesticides to to our atmosphere we stopped using them. But for years afterwards we had a terrible time trying to stop moths from dining in the rug store.

Three years ago we tried a new approach — pheromone-bated insect traps especially designed for the moths that eat rugs. It became clear that we had solved a problem that bedevils Oriental rug businesses and anyone else who owns Oriental rugs or even wool sweaters. Last year Emmett and Natasha used them at home with excellent results.

As a customer service we now stock pheromone moth traps and if you have ever had problems with moths, we believe you should consider using them. They come in packs of ten and cost $99 per pack. One trap in each room with wool rugs or other vulnerable woolens should be enough. They can be placed in drawers, under or behind couches and cabinets or on shelves, especially in darkened areas that these moths prefer.

Unused traps may be used the following year if stored properly, bringing the cost for most people to less than $50 a year to prevent most damage to your Oriental rugs — without fouling the air with aerosol pesticides. We think that is very little to pay for year round, non-polluting protection.

This is the time of year when carpet moths show up in your home looking to snack on Oriental rugs.

The moths you would do well to worry about are tiny things, hardly noticable as they flutter about. Tineola Bisselliella, they’re called.

Carpet moths rarely cause trouble to rugs that are regularly walked on and vacuumed. So don’t worry needlessly.

On the other hand, they gravitate to dark, undisturbed places where they can eat in peace and often they cause really serious damage. They prefer rugs stored in places like basements and closets, but they will settle for Oriental rugs under sofas or beds or where rugs abut walls and are neither vacuumed or walked on and rarely disturbed. Often they chew away at the backs of rugs rather than their fronts.

Strangely, the carpet moth seems to prefer dirty rugs, often avoiding clean rugs.

If you’re interested in proactively protecting your rugs from moths, you might consider using pheromone carpet moth traps in your home.

Up close and personal with the carpet moth, Tineola Bisselliella