Miller Moths Are Back – My Grandma’s Cure For ‘Em! [VIDEO]

Last year at this time I was so tired of Miller moths that I couldn't help but tell you about my experiences with them and give you a little insight on what they were exactly. Well, the pesky little bugs are back, and so is my Miller moth 101!

Miller moths, nasty little creatures! In your car, in your house, in my studio, they seem to be everywhere! Although they don't hurt you, and wont eat tonight's dinner out of the pantry, they are more than annoying. Maybe it's their size, maybe it's their reckless flight, or that "dust" that they are covered in, but something about these little buggers drives me crazy!

Growing up I remember my grandmother being deathly afraid of "millers," and keeping a bowl of soapy water in every room of her house to catch them. After having three of them fly at my head in the studio this morning, I am thinking about getting grandma on the phone for the recipe for this "miller booby trap." But before I go taking innocent lives Ive decide to find out what these guys are all about...

MOTH FACTS

‘Miller moth’ is the term given to any type of moth that is abundant in and around homes. In Colorado and much of the Rocky Mountain west, the common ‘miller’ is the adult stage of the army cutworm, Euxoa auxiliaris. In some years it becomes a serious nuisance pest, particularly during its annual migration from the plains to the mountains in late spring. Army cutworm moths have a wing span of 1.5 to 2 inches. It is generally gray or light brown with wavy dark and light markings on the wings. The wing patterns of the moths are variable in color and markings, but all have a distinctive kidney-shaped marking on the fore-wing.

Info courtesy of www.ext.colostate.edu.

Problems Moths Cause

From www.ext.colostate.edu:

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 nor lay eggs. Furthermore, they do not feed on any household furnishings or food. Moths in the home will eventually find a way outdoors or die without reproducing. When large numbers 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, old moths may serve as food for carpet beetles and other household scavengers. These secondary insects may become problems in subsequent years. Miller moths also may spot drapes or other surfaces, such as unfinished wood because they excrete fluid for most of their adult life. This product is slightly acidic and is sprayed by the moth. Presumably the purpose of this is defensive, although it is not particularly irritating.

How To Get Rid Of Moths

The two main consumers of miller moths are swallows and grizzly bears. Because it may cause more problems to keep a wild bird or bear around the house to take care of the moths, most active house cats enjoy a miller or two from time to time as well, and have fun catching them too. Oh, and my grandma's soapy water trick does work too. Suspend a light bulb over a bucket partially filled with soapy water. Moths attracted to the light often will fall into the water and be killed. If this is attempted some wetting agent, such as soap or detergent, must be added or many moths will escape.

What Others Are Saying

Our friends at 9News even did a segment on miller moths.