The appearance of ants near stored clothing can understandably trigger concern about potential damage to garments. Many homeowners who discover an ant trail near a closet or dresser worry that these insects might be consuming the fabric itself, similar to the destruction caused by clothes moths or carpet beetles. Understanding the biological mandate and dietary needs of common ant species is the first step in clarifying their actual threat to your wardrobe.
Why Common Ants Do Not Consume Fabric
Common household ants, such as pavement ants or “sugar ants,” do not possess the biological capacity to digest the complex fibers that make up most clothing. Their primary diet consists of sugars, proteins, and fats, which they can easily metabolize. Fabric materials like cotton, which is cellulose, or wool and silk, which are keratin-based proteins, require specialized enzymes for digestion that ants generally lack.
The digestive tract of a foraging ant is not equipped to break down the fibrous structure of textiles. Therefore, an ant crawling on a shirt is seeking out residues it can consume, not the shirt itself. This fact applies to natural fibers like linen and synthetics like polyester, neither of which offers the nutritional components ants require.
How Ants Cause Indirect Damage to Clothing
While ants do not eat fabric, they can still cause indirect damage by being attracted to contaminants on the material. They are drawn to microscopic traces of food spills, particularly sugary drinks, or the salt and oil residues left by human sweat. Even clean-looking clothes that have been worn once or improperly washed may contain enough residue to attract a foraging ant colony.
The damage often occurs when ants are drawn to starch-based sizing, a substance sometimes used to stiffen new fabrics. Furthermore, certain species, like large carpenter ants, may damage the wooden structure of a closet or storage unit. Fire ants have also been known to build temporary nests in undisturbed piles of fabric or laundry baskets, which can damage the item by soiling it with soil and debris.
Pests That Actually Eat Clothes
The insects genuinely responsible for destroying textiles have specialized diets that target the structural components of fabric. These pests are often wrongly blamed on ants due to their small size or presence in similar, undisturbed areas. Identifying the precise culprit is paramount to effective remediation and protection of the wardrobe.
Clothes moth larvae are famous for consuming animal fibers like wool, cashmere, silk, and fur, which contain the protein keratin. They leave behind irregular holes, often accompanied by silken webbing or small, silken cases that incorporate the color of the fabric they are eating. These larvae thrive in dark, quiet environments, such as boxes of stored clothing or the back of a closet.
Carpet beetle larvae also feed on keratin-rich materials, typically leaving behind irregular, scattered holes and bald patches, along with their characteristic bristly, shed skins. Unlike moth larvae, which tend to graze along the surface, carpet beetle damage can appear more widespread and includes leather and felt alongside wool and silk. The third main textile pest, the silverfish, targets materials high in cellulose and starch, such as cotton, linen, and rayon, often leaving behind yellow stains and scraped, irregular holes where they have etched the surface.
Protecting Clothing from Pests
Preventing textile damage requires a multi-pronged approach that eliminates the attractants for both ants and true fabric-eating pests. Effective protection involves several steps:
- Every garment should be thoroughly cleaned or laundered before being placed into long-term storage, as this removes the sweat, food stains, and oils that attract all types of insects.
- Storing clothing in airtight plastic containers or sealed vacuum bags is significantly more protective than using cardboard boxes, which are easily accessed by pests like silverfish.
- Regular maintenance of storage areas is necessary to deter infestations.
- Vacuuming closet floors, shelves, and drawers removes stray fibers, hair, and insect eggs, eliminating potential food sources for larvae.
- Controlling the moisture level in rooms and sealing any cracks or crevices that serve as entry points will prevent both ant and fabric pest access to the area.