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Indian meal moth is a small, grayish-brown moth common in many homes and food distribution warehouses. The caterpillar stage feeds on nuts, herbs, coarsely ground grains and other pantry items.
The first stage of control is to identify all potential sources of infestation in a home or business.
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Infested materials should be discarded, promptly used up or treated with heat or cold to kill insects found in the food. A thorough clean out of all food sources is critical to managing the Indian meal moth.
Storing items in insect resistant containers or in cold storage can prevent re-infestation.
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Life History and Habits
Indian meal moths develop in many kinds of stored foods. Coarsely ground grains and cereal products are commonly infested. Dried herbs, dried fruits and nuts are also highly favored. Pet foods such as dried dog food, flaked fish food, and bird seed can also become infested. Indian meal moth may also breed in ornamental items made of dried flowers or seeds.
The moths usually fly at dusk and through the night. Females lay tiny eggs (0.5 mm) on or near potential food items. The newly hatched caterpillars (larvae) seek out foods and begin to develop. As they feed they often produce silk that loosely binds to food fragments. In large, undisturbed containers feeding is concentrated on the surface as the larvae do little burrowing. However, caterpillars may occur throughout the product within small, loose packages typically found in household pantries. The caterpillars are capable of chewing through plastic bags and thin cardboard.
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*Indian meal moths leave webbing on top of a grain pile
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