London, Jul 25 (IANS): It was a terror attack of a different kind. Swarms of moths of the Tineola bisselliella and Tineola pellionella species arrived at the Olympics Village, attracted by a huge blaze of light seen from miles away.

The Village, with 9,000 brand new wardrobes, each containing clothing to see athletes through two weeks of the Games, "must have looked like paradise" for the insects, the Daily Mail reported.

The revelation that the Olympic stadium is a hot-spot for moths came from anti-moth and home care company Caraselledirect.

The firm monitors pest control sales daily to determine which areas are most affected.

In Stratford, the problem has been described as an escalating "epidemic".

It has been described as 40 times bigger than in Newcastle upon Tyne, 400 times worse than in Belfast, and greater than in the whole of Scotland.

"They show no respect for Savile Row suits, Primark jumpers or athletes' outfits," said the firm's moth expert, Jonathan Beriland.

The daily said London saw a big increase in moth numbers recently because of unseasonal or prolonged spells of cold, wet weather.

Homes, offices and flats in the Olympic Village kept windows closed and the heat on, seen as perfect conditions for moths to lay eggs that turn into cloth-eating larvae.

Females can lay 40 eggs in three weeks, producing larvae which may carry on eating for up to a year before becoming pupa.

Olympic officials said they had "not been overwhelmed" by complaints about damaged clothing, or by "reports of munching sounds from inside athletes' wardrobes", according to the daily.

A report said an American athlete spent an uncomfortable night swatting moths after leaving his balcony doors open and dozing off with the light on.