Year of the moth in Wrightwood ?

[Stitches]

[WWDREAMN]

Man, they just keep getting wors instead of better. Seems the warmer the night, the bigger the sworm. Last night we got in around 11:00 and there were hundreds of them outside our front door (oops left the porch light on) but the worst part was there must have been 30 of the buggers in the house. I sure wish I could find how they are getting in, because they are making us all crazy.

[Stitches]

One of the tricky ways they get in is hitching a ride on you.   Sometimes my husband works late and I leave the porch light on for him.    When he comes in, he is wearing about 10 moths and they scatter as soon as they get in.

[TableMtn]

Sorry Wrightwood--The land and plants are federal property but  wildlife belongs to the state.  This comes from English common law and goes all the way back to the Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215.  (I'm just a wealth of flotsam and jetsom floating around my brain....)  That is why even though hunting is allowed in the National Forest (but not in National Parks), the hunting regulations are established by the sovereign state.  And in many states, they don't have any regulations that address insects.  So, looks like I'm in the clear    

[Nolena]

But....DO they taste like chicken?  

[Chesslike]

I would think not, as one was hiding in our oven the other night when we preheated it to bake cookies. The smell he gave off as he was roasting was more akin to a meatloafy smell.

According to California law, when insects engage in the illegal activity of hitch hiking they are no longer under the legal protection of the state.  

Three ways I have seen these tricky guys gain entrance into our house is by hiding in the door jam until you open the door, by crawling through any gaps in the door weatherstripping and crawling around any gaps in the window screens where they meet the window frame.

[Hillbillies]

Two nights ago we had one moth smoke to death on our bathroom halogen light.  Usually they hit the light, get a quick burn, and it's off to moth heaven.  This one must have seared onto the bulb.  We smelled something burning for a good 20 minutes before we were able to locate the source.  We finally discovered the charcoal remains of the victim.  The unpleasant smell remained for most of the evening.  I would describe the smell has a burning hairy meaty smell.  

[BikingBrian]

Three ways I have seen these tricky guys gain entrance into our house is by hiding in the door jam until you open the door, by crawling through any gaps in the door weatherstripping and crawling around any gaps in the window screens where they meet the window frame.

Thanks for the info.  I was scratching my head trying to figure out how they get in.  In my case the first two wouldn't apply, but there are gaps in the window screens where they meet the window frame.  I can't think of a way to fix this other than caulking in the screens.   The house has been really warm from being closed up for the week, maybe that's attracting them also?

At night, normally leaving a light on in the living room has kept the moths away from the bedrooms.  But last night there were so many that there were still some in the bedrooms.  They're attracted to the neighbor's outside lights ... so every fifteen minutes or so we'd be awakened by a light "ping" on the metal miniblinds.  That made for a restless night of sleep!

[Freighthauler]

[Matt]

Dunno if it's been mentioned, but insects are drawn to "irregated areas"... according to National Geographic.  Watering your lawn often or even keeping a bird bath might be the culprit.

[BikingBrian]

Since they didn't have moth balls at Lowe's in OC, I bought some of those cedar blocks to put around the cabin.  I wonder if they'll really work to keep the moths away.  I might still find some moth balls, but only use them in the attic and the crawl space ... I don't want to get the smell in the house.

The strange thing (to me) is that I haven't seen the moths in the closets (then again, we don't have anything that's wool) ... or are these not the kind of moths that get into clothes?

[Barry]

I found that vacuuming them up in the window sills works great. Today I must have got over a hundred. They sure look gross in the see thru chamber in the vacuume.

[Hillbillies]

[AntiFltLndrs]

[Hillbillies]

You're welcome.

[Stitches]

I had a light fixture that must've trapped and killed about 50 moths.  I gathered them up and dropped them in a pile on the shore at Lake Jackson.  I tried to use them for bait.  The birds came by and gobbled them all up!  I wonder what they're called and if they have other stages in their lifecycle.

[Billie]

I remember in the late 60's we had invasion of the moths.  My mother put a pan of vegetable oil under a light to catch them.  I have heard water and detergent does the same.

[Wrightwood]

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

[mtman]

Here's a story I found on these pests :

It was icky

To the Editor:

They shouldn't drive me crazy, but they do. I say to myself ... I say, "Self, they weigh an eighth of a gram, and they don't bite. What's the big deal?"

I'm speaking of miller moths. They've been the scourge of my life for the last three weeks, or so. They're inconsequential bland little bugs, but as aggravating and nearly as annoying as any mosquito I've ever met.

Where did they come from? Someone said Kansas. And where are they going? That same someone said California. How do ditsy bugs like miller moths make it from anywhere to anywhere?

I lift the hood to my truck, and a miller moth flies out. I clean under my tablecloth, and a miller moth flies out. Rest period is over, boys, the highway's that way, not up every crack, behind every houseplant, and under every piece of dirty laundry I own.

I try to ignore them, but it's hard. One flittered in my mouth the other night. Yeah, it was icky.

And why do they always wait until I'm driving before they show their miller moth faces? I almost got in a miller moth wreck last Tuesday as I was trying to roll down my window and shoo out an unwanted miller moth.

Is time the only thing that can stop them? Are we doomed to miller moth invasions year after year?

I know I won't miss the dive-bombing birds and the moth feasts they hold on only the busiest of intersections. Is there a psychedelic quality to miller moth meat? Do birds hallucinate on it?

And, what kind of perverse instinct is it to be mesmerized by my headlights? Are the miller moths as drugged out as the birds that eat them? Maybe it's some kind of Samurai bug honor code or something, to throw yourself at speeding illumination.

I know I'm a bit obsessed, but I ain't cleaning carcasses out of my shoplight 'till this invasion is over. What's the sense? Clean today, and 10 more sacrifice themselves tomorrow.

... It's nice to see you again Mr. Miller Moth. When are you leaving? I won't leave the light on.

-- Malcolm Allyn

[PatP]

Thanks for the post Wrightwood.  Good info.  Well, I'm the new guy on the block, so be nice to me.  Here's another update from central Linnet Rd.  I've had similar moth experiences as most on this board.  2 days ago, I went up into the attic and covered every possible moth access I could find with duct tape.  Other than two or three "hiders" (moths that have been hanging out inside for a few days that I haven't yet sucked into my vacuum cleaner), they are gone.  

Plainolguy