It started as a regular laundry day. I was sorting through an old box of winter clothes, trying to decide what to keep and what to donate. That’s when I noticed them—tiny, reddish balls scattered across an old sweater. At first, I thought it was lint, fabric pilling, or maybe dried beads from a craft project.
Then I realized the truth—and immediately felt my stomach turn.
The Unsettling Discovery
These weren’t ordinary little balls. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that what I was seeing was actually insect eggs, likely from a type of beetle or moth that had made the sweater its temporary home. The reddish color indicated that they were old but still intact, a disturbing reminder of how easily pests can go unnoticed in stored clothing.
How Clothing Becomes a Target
Old sweaters, blankets, or wool garments can become attractive to certain insects because they provide:
- Warmth and shelter
- Protein-rich fibers (like wool or cashmere)
- A quiet, undisturbed place to lay eggs
Common culprits include clothes moths and carpet beetles, both of which can cause damage if infestations are left unchecked.
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