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Mothmageddon

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Factual: Homes & Gardens: Homes

BBC Radio 4 - Mothmageddon

BBC Wales' Political Editor tells the story of her one-woman battle with textile moths.

Clothes moths are on the rise. As these voracious pests continue to gain ground around the country, presenter Felicity Evans asks if there's any sure way to prevent Mothmageddon.

The rise of moths eating people's clothes and carpets has been well documented. Recently, English Heritage found that infestation levels were "alarmingly high" in southern England. But the insects are spreading further afield. And they can be very difficult to get rid of.
 
Presenter Felicity Evans - who is also BBC Wales' Political Editor - has some living under her floorboards. Having tried everything from obsessive vacuuming to getting holes drilled in her floor and insecticide powder sprayed, she is now turning to an unusual new method of control.

A commercial treatment originally for warehouses and theatres, she has installed a product designed to spread sexual confusion and interfere with the mating process. As a human who went through her own bout of sexual confusion in her teens, she is hoping to be immune to the effect of the pheromones, but can they stop the moths?

As these voracious pests continue to gain ground around the country Felicity asks if there's any sure way to prevent Mothmageddon.

Contributors:
David Slade, County Recorder for Glamorgan
Teleri Glyn-Jones
Dr. Christian Baars, National Museum of Wales
Phil Meek, Titan Pest Control

Producer: Llinos Jones
A Terrier production for BBC Radio 4

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