Ichneumon wasps for moth control

Lukas
Lukas
Lukas
Lukas

I studied agricultural sciences with full conviction - an obvious choice for me, as I grew up on my parents’ farm and learned early on to find joy in taking care of plants and animals.

Favourite fruit: grapes, mangos and bananas.
Favourite vegetables: brussels sprouts, spinach and potatoes

Having moths in the home is very annoying. Read on to discover how to use ichneumon wasps to get rid of clothes moths and pantry moths effectively.

close-up of ichneumon wasp on white flowers
Ichneumon wasps help get rid of pesky moths [Photo: InsectWorld/ Shutterstock.com]

Ichneumon wasps (Trichogramma evanescens), also known as ichneumonids or Darwin wasps, are extremely helpful when it comes to controlling clothes moths and pantry moths. Ichneumon wasps are parasites that lay their own eggs inside host eggs. At just 0.4 mm, they are barely visible to the naked eye. They are not dangerous and have no effect on humans as they do not sting and die out once all the host’s eggs have been parasitised. Read on to find out how to use ichneumon wasps for moth control as well as how to get hold of these beneficial insects.

Ichneumon wasps against clothes moths

Clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella) are members of the tineid moth or fungus moth family known as Tineidae and can be found worldwide. They are about six to nine millimetres in size and lay their eggs in natural textiles. Animal-derived clothing such as wool and fur is especially popular because it contains a fibrous protein called keratin that the larvae feed on. The moths leave behind small holes in clothing and a musty smell.

Mini-Wasps against Clothes Moths - Natural Moth Control
Mini-Wasps against Clothes Moths - Natural Moth Control
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star-rating star-rating star-rating star-rating star-rating
(4.2/5)
  • Effective & chemical-free biological control for clothes moths
  • 1 one-time payment for 6 separate lots of mini-wasp cards delivered at 2 week intervals
  • Highest quality parasitic wasps - not harmful to humans or pets
£39.99

Our Plantura Mini-Wasps against clothes moths provide a convenient and safe means of solving the problem. The ichneumon wasps come in carded dispensers, which you simply place in your wardrobe or the affected area for several weeks. The wasps lay their own eggs inside the moth eggs, thereby interrupting their life cycle. It can take quite a while to eliminate all moths, but it is worth it.

fuzzy clothes moth on carpet
The clothes moth lays her eggs on textiles made of animal fibres [Photo: Tomasz Klejdysz/ Shutterstock.com]

Ichneumon wasps against pantry moths

There are many different types of pantry moths, including the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), which is the most common, the European grain moth (Nemapogongranella), the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) and the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella). A pantry moth infestation is not only unpleasant, but it also poses a health risk because the larvae infest food with their droppings. A good way of getting rid of them effectively is by using ichneumon wasps.

Mini-Wasps against Pantry Moths - Natural Moth Control
Mini-Wasps against Pantry Moths - Natural Moth Control
star-placeholder star-placeholder star-placeholder star-placeholder star-placeholder
star-rating star-rating star-rating star-rating star-rating
(5/5)
  • Effective & chemical-free biological control for pantry moths
  • 1 one-time payment for 4 separate lots of mini-wasp cards delivered at 2 week intervals
  • Highest quality parasitic wasps - not harmful to humans or pets
£0.00

Our ichneumon wasps, or rather their eggs, come in carded dispensers that you place in the affected area. The wasps will soon hatch and parasitise the moth eggs, thereby killing the host. To make sure you have covered the entire moth life cycle and have eliminated all moths, you will need to repeat the process three times. We will send you the required amount of cards of our Plantura Mini-Wasps against pantry moths at two week intervals so you always have fresh wasps ready to tackle the moths. Once you are free of moths, the ichneumon wasps will gradually disappear too.

brown rugged pantry moth
Pantry moth infestations are not only unappetising, but also have the potential to spread disease [Photo: Tomasz Klejdysz/ Shutterstock.com]

Ichneumon wasps against aphids and whiteflies

Ichneumon wasps are not only useful against moths. Various species are specialised to combat specific hosts. Make sure to check which pest a specific type of ichneumon wasp can be used for. Trichogramma evanescens, for example, is effective against both clothes and pantry moths. Another option for clothes moths is the species Trichogramma habrobracon.

The most important thing is that the beneficial insects are given ideal living conditions to ensure they multiply faster than the pest they are controlling. The right temperature plays an important role here. For more information on the use of ichneumonids and beneficial insects in general, read our plant protection article on scale insect control.