the cedar moth myth

Art Fawcett · Feb 21, 2017

This thread has just struck on my greatest fear in the shop. I set off bombs on a semi regular basis cause you just don't know when they can arrive.

FedOregon · Feb 21, 2017

I admit to a slight feeling of dread as I read through this... good info to know, though!

rclark · Feb 21, 2017

If it flies it dies in my house!

Celia · Feb 21, 2017

Wesslyn said:
I've found that silverfish are far more detrimental to hats than moths.

Am I the only one creeped out but the thought of bugs on or in my hats? Yeesh...

Nope, you're not alone, those bugs better stay well away from my hats... Haven't got any experience with silverfish, but carpet beetles (well, their larvae) are a nightmare.

I usually open my wardrobes during the day to let sunlight in and move around clothes and hats to scare away potential pests. I have a lot of fabrics as well because I make clothes, including some really nice silks and woollens, so those and the hats make me pretty paranoid about moths/beetles... The fabrics and hats stored in boxes have sachets with cedar wood and lavender in them with some added drops of cedar and lavender oil, but after reading Moon's post, I guess they're probably not much use...

FedOregon · Feb 21, 2017

rclark said:
If it flies it dies in my house!

Same here!

@Wesslyn now I hear about silverfish, too??? Ack!!!

emigran · Feb 21, 2017

Oh Great... MORE stuff to stress about...

BTW... When I was a kid EVERYTHING my grandfather wore smelled of mothballs... and Ben Gay...

moehawk · Feb 22, 2017

The Para type mothballs will kill the moth larvae, provided that the infested items are closed up in an airtight space with the mothballs for a period of time while the balls evaporate and fumigate the space. The mothballs, however, are now not recommended for indoor use because of toxicity issues. An interesting tidbit about the mothballs is that they will drive skunks out from under your house or garage or wherever else they decide to make a den. Stinky little buggers don't like the stinky little balls.

barrowjh · Feb 22, 2017

I use lavender, and I have no clue whether it works or if I am just lucky that insects have not found my hats . . .

Edward · Feb 22, 2017

I've recently had a beautiful vintage had badly damaged, so I'm all ears on this.

Did OP's friend have anything to say about repelling carpet beetles? THey seem to be the much greater cause of trouble for me.

rogerstg · Feb 22, 2017

Edward said:
I've recently had a beautiful vintage had badly damaged, so I'm all ears on this.

Did OP's friend have anything to say about repelling carpet beetles? THey seem to be the much greater cause of trouble for me.

Permethrin is effective against most insects and has low mammalian toxicity, is poorly absorbed through the skin, and is rapidly inactivated by the body.
It is commonly found in dog flee collars, anti tick spray for clothes, lice treatments, livestock/dog dip, public mosquito control, places where food is handled.

Each spring, I mix a .5% solution and use it to tick proof jeans, socks and shoes. I also lightly mist all hats and the inside of their storage boxes and bags.

Just be careful around cats. IIRC there is some toxicity to cats when wet.

Mangrove · Feb 22, 2017

From Handbook of pest control; the behavior, life history, and control of household pests (1945) by Arnold Mallis:

Pg. 209

Kemper (1936) came to the conclusion that the clothes moth larva cannot complete its development on such furs as rabbit and calf. He found that rabbit, calf, goat, and wildcat furs were subject to slight damage, whereas skunk, marmot, and opossum furs were severely damaged. The larva consumes the hide near the base of the hair, thus causing the hair to fall out.

Pg. 210

According to Billings (1936) the clothes moth larva cannot be bred on thoroughly clean woolen goods. In this respect, he notes, "eggs laid on such woolens hatch normally but the little larvae fed slightly or not at all and death from apparent starvation follows in about two weeks." He also found that food stains stimulated larval growth, as did ordinary house dust, but with varying effect.

Pg. 223

Cedar products—The housewife has long attributed special "mystical powers" to cedar oil. cedar wood, and cedar chips in regard to their "supposed" ability to drive away the clothes moths. The heartwood alone of red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) has a volatile oil, the principal constituents of which, according to Back (1935). arc "the alcohol cedrol orcedrol camphor, the sesquiterpene alcohol cedrenol. and the sesquiterpenecedrene. The characteristic odor of cedar chests is probably due to the first two compounds mentioned." The heartwood contains from 2 to 4 per cent of these volatile oils. As a rule red cedar closets are not kept sufficiently tight and closed to retain the volatile oil. and thus to be of any use in controlling the clothes moth. Since chests are tighter, they are usually slightly more efficacious in this regard. Back (1935) states that, "chests with the sides, ends, and bottoms made of red cedar heartwood at least three-fourths inch thick, and the cover of solid red cedar or of a neutral wood lined with red cedar veneer, will kill all the newly hatched or young larvae of the clothes moths." It should be recalled that the volatile oil of cedar is not a repellent.

Pg. 225

Brushing—The "good old" method of removing woolens and like materials and brushing and beating them at intervals of once or twice a month is very effective. Wearing apparel, blankets, etc., in constant use are rarely damaged by clothes moths. By beating and brushing the clothes, the eggs and possibly even the younger larvae are crushed or dislodged. The use of a vacuum cleaner on the clothes will facilitate this. Regarding fur. Back (1935) states: "Furs cannot always be rid of these older worms by merely brushing or beating. Clothes moth worms often lie hidden next to the skin and are so firmly established by the webbing they spin that they are not dislodged from the fur by brushing or shaking. For this reason furs suspected of being infested should be combed out with a very fine comb, or should be fumigated."

Edward · Feb 22, 2017

rogerstg said:
Permethrin is effective against most insects and has low mammalian toxicity, is poorly absorbed through the skin, and is rapidly inactivated by the body.
It is commonly found in dog flee collars, anti tick spray for clothes, lice treatments, livestock/dog dip, public mosquito control, places where food is handled.

Each spring, I mix a .5% solution and use it to tick proof jeans, socks and shoes. I also lightly mist all hats and the inside of their storage boxes and bags.

Just be careful around cats. IIRC there is some toxicity to cats when wet.

Thanks - I'll make sure the cat stays well clear!

RJR · Feb 22, 2017

Edward said:
Thanks - I'll make sure the cat stays well clear!

Art Fawcett · Feb 22, 2017

emigran said:
Oh Great... MORE stuff to stress about...

BTW... When I was a kid EVERYTHING my grandfather wore smelled of mothballs... and Ben Gay...

Oh good, I'm not the only one who's Grandfather was wise.....and sore

FedOregon · Feb 22, 2017

Art Fawcett said:
Oh good, I'm not the only one who's Grandfather was wise.....and sore

My house smelled like Ben Gay last week. Man, did I have kinks in my neck!

I guess a person with just a touch of OCD, like FedOregon, might brush his hats before bed every night... you know, instead of reading them all a bedtime story.

gtdean48 · Feb 22, 2017

Art Fawcett said:
Oh good, I'm not the only one who's Grandfather was wise.....and sore

Absorbine Jr anyone? https://www.absorbinejr.com/products/pain-relieving-liquid/

FedOregon · Feb 22, 2017

gtdean48 said:
Absorbine Jr anyone? https://www.absorbinejr.com/products/pain-relieving-liquid/

oooh, I remember that stuff. It ran pretty "hot" as I recall.

Redfokker · Feb 22, 2017

I wonder if Absorbine Jr. is still available. My shoulder sure could use a stinky application today. I could wear all of my hats and give them the vapor treatment!

Blackthorn · Feb 23, 2017

I recently saw the prices of Black Sheep hats and I have a beauty that I haven't worn in more than five years, so I got it out to take pics so I could offer it to the highest bidder on Ebay. Then I noticed that there are a few shallow pockmarks on the beaver felt and realized I can't get top dollar for it now. I'm bummed. If I still wore custom fedoras I would have no problem wearing this with my suits, but buyers would think twice about it. And it's been in a box for all those years.

Kuki · Feb 23, 2017

All this makes me remember that I did not share with you the translation of the micro-story that won me this years Spanish "Hat micro-story competition", it kind of is related to the thread... here it goes:

The old hat

“The best hats are those made of rabbit fur” the old man assured the little one.

“This one you see here,” he said pointing to an off white moth eaten hat “with its wide brim and silk binding, it’s my favorite. I particularly like the crown where the felt is the thickest”.

The little one looked with interest, while his grandfather continued explaining.

“Those made of wool felt are stiffer and have more sizing, but fur felt ones,“ he said caressing the surface “are really soft. For many generations we have valued this particular hat and now you will also be able to enjoy it”.

The little one looked with hopeful anticipation, while his grandfather spoke: “keep in mind that not all moths can enjoy delicacies like this”.

After which they set about eating that forgotten and ratty hat.

Written by yours truly, Cristina de Prada (no hats were harmed in the writing of this story).

the cedar moth myth

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