Damage from a carpet moth infestation. Photo: SUPPLIED
New Zealand wool carpet companies are insisting wool-eating insects and pests are not as common as people think.
To the dismay of New Zealand's struggling wool sector, consumers usually choose synthetic fibre carpets because they are usually cheaper than wool and less vulnerable to insect damage - albeit less environmentally-friendly.
Carpet moths were most destructive in their young stages of life, as eggs hatched into small caterpillar-like grubs which could live up to 12 months on an eating spree of woollen fibres throughout people's homes - especially of carpets and clothing.
Various New Zealand-based pest extermination companies reported cases of the bugs across the country.
But wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth's chief executive Greg Smith said most wool companies treated their wool with insect repellents during manufacturing.
He said the insect-resist agents were effective at keeping away carpet moth, so their products came with a 15-year guarantee as a result - and complaints were "uncommon".
"Out of the hundreds of thousands of metres of carpet we sell each year, we may get five complaints in a year, of which we repair and replace," Smith said.
"There are moths and there are beetles, but with just regular vacuuming as you'd expect that takes care of that issue.
"I think [carpet moth] is made a little bit bigger than it really is."
He said carpet companies pushing synthetic materials tended to make out carpet moths as being more of a problem than it was - as moth protection was commonly used by wool manufacturers.
Nationwide franchise Harrisons offered carpets of both woollen and synthetic fibres.
Its national product manager Felipe Dos Santoz said its manufacturers pre-treated their wool with non-toxic moth and insect repellents to protect the carpet - and the scale of the carpet moth problem was exaggerated.
"I think that's all about perception at the moment," Dos Santoz said.
"It's important to clarify that it's almost like a myth, and that perception that the wool carpets are constantly under attack of pests is a bit overstated, where in reality these infestations have been quite rare and can definitely be prevented."
He said homeowners should vacuum hidden carpet areas where bugs tend to breed, behind and under furniture and keep rooms well ventilated to reduce the risk of bugs.
"Wool being a natural fibre, it is a bit more vulnerable to pests such as carpet beetles and moths. But this issue can be effectively managed with proper care and preventive measures by the home owner."
Dos Santoz said wool carpets had an environmental advantage over synthetic carpets because they were more easily disposed of, whereas New Zealand lacked a system for recycling synthetic carpet.
Wool Research of New Zealand general manager Tim Lonsdale said carpet moth protection had been used in the industry for decades and the repellents had evolved over time.