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Moth larvae eat wool protein and they work where it is dark and undisturbed. That means the damage always begins in the one place nobody looks: under the furniture.
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Oriental Rugs
The adult moth does not feed on wool at all; it lays eggs. The larvae that hatch feed on keratin in the wool fibre, and they avoid light and movement. A rug that is walked on daily and vacuumed regularly is rarely attacked in the open field. The area under a sofa, beneath a bed, behind a cabinet or under a rug pad that has not been lifted in years is exactly the environment they need.
Bare patches where the pile has gone and the foundation shows through are the obvious late stage. Earlier signs are more subtle: fine sandy grit that is actually larval casings, silken tubes along the base of the pile, small pale larvae themselves, or pile that lifts away with almost no resistance when you tug it gently. Check the reverse as well, because damage often reads more clearly from the back.
A thorough wash removes eggs, larvae, casings and the soil that attracts them in the first place, which is why regularly washed rugs are rarely infested. Moths are also drawn to wool carrying food residue, perspiration and pet oil, so a soiled rug is more attractive than a clean one. Washing is not an insecticide treatment, but it removes the population and the conditions together.
Lift furniture and turn rugs at least once a year, which alone prevents most infestations by disturbing the dark undisturbed conditions larvae require. Vacuum the reverse occasionally. Rugs going into storage should be washed first, never stored damp, wrapped in breathable material rather than plastic, and checked periodically. If you find active larvae, keep the rug away from other wool textiles until it is treated.
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