Pantry Pests
Indian Meal Moth
| Appearance |
|---|
 The Indian meal moth has a reddish copper color on its otherwise white wings and is small, reaching up to 5/8-inch in length. It was given its name after an entomologist discovered it feeding on cornmeal, also known as Indian meal. |
| Habitat |
| As a larva, the Indian meal moth spins a web around foods, rendering them unusable, including grains, dried fruits, nuts, dog food, beans, and more. This moth usually enters structures in boxes or bags of infested foods. It appears throughout the food processing chain and is the most common moth of stored and dried foods. Adult Indian meal moths tend to avoid light and rest quietly on walls and ceilings, becoming active after dusk. |
| Diet |
| Indian meal moths feed on a wide variety of food items, including flour, cereal, nuts, grains, chocolate, birdseed, and dried pet food. |
| Control |
| All dried food products should be inspected, along with spices, potpourri, and stored birdseed. Discard all infested packages and products. Clean spilled grain and infested cabinet areas using a vacuum followed by soapy water. Store all dried food and pantry items in glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids to limit spreading if one food becomes infested. |
