Clothes moths are believed to be native to Africa and do not exist so much in nature. They mostly follow humans around and live in houses, where temperatures are warmer and the air is drier. They've been a traditional problem in Europe and the Northeast of the US for around 200 years, since people traditionally had so many items made out of wool, and they especially became a problem when central heating became a widespread phenomena. However, beginning in about the 60s they went on the decline as more materials began to be made out of synthetics and animal hairs became less common. Now they appear to be on the surge again. There are several reasons cited for the increase. First, warmer winters. Housekeeping not being as thorough anymore, since people are so busy, and the culture has changed, women don't clean house as much anymore. Then there is the fact that the government has imposed "energy efficient" clothes washers that do not heat the water as hot, so moth larva in wool clothes are more likely to survive. Insecticides are being used much less frequently because of a public cultural aversion to "chemicals", and wanting to be more "natural". Another big issue has been a switch back to natural fiber materials in carpeting and clothing. Wool carpeting is become more popular in England. Not only that, but almost all homes are built with insulation in the walls and attic these days for "energy efficiency", and as part of the "natural" trend, some people are installing wool as that insulation. While wool is a great material in some ways, very insulating, biodegradable, and naturally fire resistant, it is also an invitation for moth infestation in the house. In 2008, the EU banned the use of naphthalene, long traditionally used as the ingredient in mothballs to keep moths away. This will have an economic impact, since moths can easily cause thousands of pounds of damage in a home, leaving big holes in wool carpets and wool clothes. With the moths becoming more prevalent, they will also be likely to spread to other surrounding homes in these areas. Revenge of the clothes moths: as numbers boom, can they be stopped? | Insects | The Guardian
Okay but I would rather have the moths eat the clothes off my back than smell a single mothball for a single second. Those things are nasty smelling and ruin your clothes equally with the stench.
There are different types of mothballs. Try moth balls made from camphor, they do not really smell bad.
TBH I didn't even know moth balls still existed. I remember that smell from my grandparents house when I was a kid. Where do you buy them?
