Author Topic: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?  (Read 73323 times)

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KWBoy

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #120 on: May 15, 06, 10:34:40 PM »
How do you keep thoes moths and bugs out of your homes? We have a heck of a time cooking or making anything at night because the bugs get in... Some come through the holes at the bottom of the windows where the rain is suppose to drain out of the window frame. Every time we open the door at night tons get in! Then we have the problem with the flies! We have fly traps in the bathroom, hall way, and in the utility room and its sick but it keeps them out of the kitchen! Is there some product that will keep them away? Help!

*Edit*

This is the cover under the light in the hood above the stove... It hasn't been long since it was cleaned



This is of the fly trap in the hallway... It has been there for a few months.



LETs EAT!  :wink3:


Its nasty and I want them gone!


Offline Stitches

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #121 on: May 16, 06, 08:59:34 PM »
My kids found this moth outside at our porchlight this morning.   He's got a four inch wingspan.    My husband took pictures of him and if the picture comes out I'll figure a way to post it but this image is from a website on Cecropia moths.



I've looked at books and think that maybe it's a Cecropia Moth but one of the websites says that it's found EAST of the Rockies.    Any moth experts out there?

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/5479/

Offline KathySC

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #122 on: May 17, 06, 06:40:09 AM »
It doesn't stop the moths from coming in, but we had great luck 2 years ago with leaving a small platic pan of water with dish soap in it under a clamp-on light.  The moths all went for a swim.  At least they were much easier to deal with.

Bud

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #123 on: May 17, 06, 06:42:35 AM »
And clean too ;D

Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #124 on: May 22, 10, 02:08:38 PM »
We've noticed an increase in moths the last few days. Anyone else?

Offline rinderella

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #125 on: May 22, 10, 02:13:42 PM »
Yes, I don't want to say it out loud ~ but a lot more than the the last few years

Offline Mrs. Hillbilly

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #126 on: May 22, 10, 02:34:02 PM »
We've noticed an increase in moths the last few days. Anyone else?
Just a couple, but we were doing some research on the yucca plant and it's edible flowers when I stumbled upon some info on the yucca-moth.  I thought maybe when we have a huge blooming of yucca's that the moth population would increase.  I was thinking maybe these guys were coming up from LPC.  Then I google-imaged "yucca moth" and they are
white.  So I can't blame the yucca after all.



Yucca Moth






Offline KathySC

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #127 on: May 22, 10, 06:41:05 PM »
Yes, we have moths.  Much worse than the last few years.  I left a vacuum in the room to grab them off the tv. 

What I found that is helpful is to put a clamp light over a bucket of water and turn off all the other lights.  Do that at night and you'll wake up to some drowned moths.  I probably found that hint here a few years back when we also had a really bad problem.

Offline lagomorphmom

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #128 on: May 22, 10, 07:32:20 PM »
If you have a sudden increase in the house, it may just be some food stuff you have in the cupboard or other grain like bird food. I've found the paper pheromone moth traps that they sell at HD and others work really well to keep them under control - the sooner you get the the fewer eggs laid, etc., etc.

Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #129 on: May 22, 10, 09:34:28 PM »
They were identified as Miller Moths last time around and they are the same moths this time.


It might be "MILLER TIME"

First indications from Dr. Laura Merrill is that the moths are called "miller moths".

Samples have been sent to Dr. Merrill for examination and will take a day or two. While waiting for the confirmation here are some important points about miller moths:

Why are they called miller moths?
Answer: Their wings are covered by fine scales that easily rub off. The scales reminded people of the dusty flour that covers the clothing of grain-mill operators.

Are miller moths harmful?
The caterpillar stage of the army cutworm is sometimes an important pest for crops in spring. However, the adult-miller stage is primarily a nuisance--albeit a considerable nuisance at times. Moths in the home do not feed or lay eggs. During the migratory flights, the moths do not produce or lay eggs. Furthermore, the caterpillar stage would not survive on household furnishings or other foods in the home.

Moths in the home will eventually either find a way outdoors or die. When large numbers do die in a home, there may be a small odor problem (due to the fat in their bodies turning rancid). Also, unless they are cleaned out, the old moths may serve as food for carpet beetles and other household scavengers.

Probably the greatest damage by millers is lost sleep, when they are flying about the room and the (needless) worry they may cause some harm.

Moths that have recently emerged from the pupa produce a reddish-brown fluid that often is deposited on windows, walls or other areas where the insect rests. This is called meconia and is the waste product stored during pupal development. Meconia is primarily proteinaceous and is usually not difficult to remove. Follow normal fabric-care instructions on clothing. Spray-and-wash type household cleaners can remove the spots from walls and other surfaces.

Here are some website links about miller moths:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/millers.htm

http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/060303_news_moths.shtml

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/tips-millers.html

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/LARIMER/millers.htm

Offline Wrightwood

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ? 2024
« Reply #130 on: May 14, 24, 05:00:33 PM »
Here we go again..... This topic is 20 years old.
The moths this year are horrible!

Colorado's yearly miller moth infestation; What are they and how to control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZwBnnsvIbM

Offline KW

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #131 on: May 15, 24, 05:44:06 AM »
I remember when they were bad here 20 years ago. Are they back here again or just in Colorado? So far I haven't noticed any around our house this year.

Offline gus

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #132 on: May 15, 24, 07:03:35 AM »
We are having tons here every night.

Offline ForestGal

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Re: Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?
« Reply #133 on: May 15, 24, 09:48:00 AM »
I haven’t noticed any either, thank goodness.