If you’ve lived in Colorado for any length of time, you may have noticed the moths that seemingly appear out of nowhere around late May to early June. Typically light brown in color, thousands of Miller Moths stick around for a few weeks before migrating elsewhere. While these moths are typically a nuisance to most Coloradans as they get into homes, cars, and everywhere in between, they serve as pollinators when they feed on nectar, flying flower to flower, as well as food for all sorts of animals, making them an important part of our ecosystem. Although these moths are beneficial to the environment, you may be wondering how to get rid of miller moths. Keep reading for our top tips on how to get rid of miller moths humanely.
How to get rid of Miller Moths in Northern Colorado
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Check your screens
Before the Miller moths even start arriving, make sure to check all the screens in your home or apartment to ensure that no holes are present for moths to get inside. While there is no way to prevent every moth from making its way inside your home, replacing screens that have noticeable holes that formed over the winter is a great first place to start to keep moths from getting inside your home. Just remember that it is a lot easier to keep moths out before they show up than to look for ways to get rid of Miller Moths after the fact.
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Keep porch lights off
Although it may be inconvenient to turn your porch lights off during Miller Moth season, keeping your lights off will save you a lot of effort in your pursuit of getting rid of Miller Moths later on. Since moths are attracted to lights, keeping your lights off will prevent swarms of moths from hanging out around or near the door to your home. If you cannot keep your lights off if you live in an apartment, for instance, you can also keep moths out by putting a removable screen around your door to keep as many moths as possible away from your door.
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Repel Miller Moths with essential oils
If you are looking for another way to get rid of Miller Moths, a great way to repel them away from your home is by burning essential oils. Certain essential oils, such as lavender, clove, eucalyptus, cedarwood, and peppermint, are all effective in keeping these pesky moths from taking up residence in your home. You can either dip small amounts of these oils on cotton balls and place them where moths tend to gather or use a diffuser to blow oils throughout your home, similar to a citronella candle.
There is no denying that Miller Moths can be a nuisance during late spring to early summer, but it is completely possible to learn how to get rid of Miller Moths in a humane way. If you are still looking for help on dealing with Miller Moths, do not hesitate to call Northern Colorado Pest and Wildlife Control. Below are a few additional ways to get rid of Miller Moths.
- Vinegar Traps: Fill a bowl with vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap. The moths will be attracted to the vinegar but will get trapped in the soapy water.
- Homemade Moth Traps: Make simple moth traps using cardboard and sticky tape. Place these traps near lights or windows where moths tend to gather.
- Outdoor Lighting Adjustments: If possible, install motion-activated outdoor lighting. This reduces the attractiveness of your home to miller moths and other insects.
- Clean and Declutter: Millers are drawn to clutter and crumbs. Keep your home clean and organized, especially in areas where you’ve noticed moth activity.
- Beneficial Predators: Encourage natural predators like bats and birds to visit your yard by setting up birdhouses or bat boxes. They can help control the moth population.
- Natural Predators Inside: If you can tolerate them, consider introducing houseplants that attract spiders. Spiders are effective at catching moths and other flying insects.
- Use Mesh Curtains: Instead of traditional screens, install mesh curtains or drapes in windows and doorways to keep miller moths out while allowing airflow.
- Caulk and Seal Cracks: Thoroughly inspect your home for cracks and gaps, and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent moth entry.
- Moth-Repelling Plants: Plant moth-repelling herbs like rosemary, mint, or basil near doors and windows to deter miller moths with their strong scents.
- Essential Oil Diffusers: Place essential oil diffusers with moth-repelling oils like lavender or citronella in key areas of your home.
- Light Traps: Invest in light traps specifically designed for catching moths. These devices use ultraviolet light to attract and trap moths without harming them.
- Professional Pest Control: If the moth infestation is severe and none of the DIY methods work, consider hiring a pest control professional who can safely remove the moths from your home.
These methods should help you manage and reduce the miller moth population in your home without relying on natural repellents, turning off lights, or using traditional screens.
Looking for a pest control company to help you with Miller Moths? Consider working with Northern Colorado Pest and Wildlife Control and check out this recent 5-star review from our recent customer, Kimberly Loftin.
“I have used NoCo Pest & Wildlife Control a few times now. The first time was for what I thought were bed bugs… but the man that came out discovered that they were actually bat bugs (it’s evidently hard to tell the difference). What a relief! And much less expensive. They recently saved my ability to sit on my deck by controlling the swarms of mosquitoes we’ve had this year. They have always been on time, professional, reasonably priced, and, most of all, knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this business.”
Northern Colorado Pest and Wildlife Control provides fast and courteous responses to our customers’ needs. We specialize in a wide range of pest control and wildlife control services. We serve Denver: north to Wyoming, including Fort Collins, Eaton, Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Loveland, LaSalle, Johnstown, Milliken, Berthoud, Longmont, Boulder, Louisville, Superior, Lafayette, Thornton, Lakewood, Golden, Westminster, Denver, Aurora and surrounding cities.
