Moths Enjoying an Abundant Season

Moths Enjoying an Abundant Season


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Keith McCord Reporting...If you see us waving our hands around our heads, here on the news set it's because we have a bunch of moths flying around.

In fact, they've been around for a few weeks now. You've probably seen them around your house.

They’re brown, kind of ugly, and just about everywhere right now!

Yep, Utah has millions of "Millers" flying around. The moths, also called Army Cutworm Moths started showing up a few weeks ago.

Larry Lewis, Utah Department of Agriculture: "WE GO THROUGH STAGES LIKE THIS JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR."

This is quite a stage, though. Our office is typical of others, probably, with employees shooing them away, as they're trying to have a conversation!

The moths zig and zag all over the place! What are they up to anyway?

Larry Lewis, Utah Department of Agriculture: "WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE MILD WINTER AND THE ABNORMALLY WARM TEMPERATURES IS HATCHING THE MOTHS EARLIER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD BE."

Having a bunch of moths out in the yard is one thing -- but right now they're coming indoors!

Look at this one, sneaking in under the revolving door in the front of our building! And, they're on the walls, the ceilings, and the floors. We have noticed that after awhile, if they can't get out, they usually die!

Keith McCord, Eyewitness News: "THE MOTHS WILL EVENTUALLY MIGRATE TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE IT'S COOLER. THIS GUY THOUGH IS GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE, BECAUSE HE'S LOCKED INSIDE OF A BUILDING!"

The good news in all this, the moths will only be around for a few more weeks...

Larry Lewis, Utah Department of Agriculture: "THEY'RE MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPRAY IN YOUR HOME FOR THEM... WINDOW SILLS, DOOR JAMBS, PERIMETERS OF YOUR HOMES IF YOU CARE TO."

The state Agriculture Department, says this is NOT an abnormal moth outbreak. It’s just a bit earlier than usual.

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