Fabrics destroyed include woolens, furs, hairs, leathers , feathers, horns, insect and animal collections. They can also attack stored foods such as food, meat, fish, meal and milk products. Synthetic fibers are rarely damaged, only incidently due to oiled stains , perspiration or other residue on the fabric. These insects are able to digest keratin as their food source. Keratin is the chief ingredient in human tissues such as skin, hair and fingernails.
Keratin is a chief ingredient in horns, hoofs, feathers, hair, nails in other mammals.
The Fabric pest's ability to digest keratin is unique. Other pest, such as silverfish,crickets,cockroaches and earwigs will chew or shred the fabric, but not digest it. The ability to digest the keratin and the abundant use of wool and other animal hair is the cause of such a widespread problem.