Facts About Almond Moths
Also known as the tropical warehouse moth, the almond moth is often found hitching a ride on imported cargo. It has a penchant for travel and is found all over the world. It is often confused with its similar and much more commonplace cousin, the Indianmeal moth. The almond moth gets its name from its love of nuts, as it will feed on many different varieties like almonds, walnuts, and peanuts, to name a few.
Signs of Almond Moth Infestations
The almond moth will feed on a variety of grain and seeds, as well as other dry goods like fruit and pet food. You may also find the moth in coarse flour and cornmeal.
Female moths will lay between 200 to 400 eggs that are the size of a pinhead. They are white in color, and will be located near a dry food source that they will feed on once they hatch. Once they reach the larvae stage, they measure about 13 millimeters and look dirty white with either brown or purple spots on their backs. The full development process takes about 35 days. However, once the almond moth reaches adulthood, it will only live for seven to 10 days.
You’ll be able to tell if you have an almond moth infestation if you see them flying around where dry food is stored. This will often be during the later hours of the day, starting at dusk. Larvae will stay on the food item until it is ready to pupate, often crawling to the ceiling of the container to make its cocoon. For foods stored in cardboard boxes, for example, you might notice small holes in the sides from where the larvae began to munch. In contaminated items, there will often be silk-like webbing if the moth is present, so be sure to look carefully before you eat.
Types of Almond Moths
Almond Moth Identification
Adult almond moths are range in size from 13 to 20 millimeters in length. They have bi-colored wings that are gray-brown and tan. Their wingspan can reach up to 20 millimeters across. Their coloration gives them a similar appearance to the nuts on which they feed.
Almond Moths in the House & the Closet
Almond moth larvae cause the actual damage. You may them living in silken tubes within food products like dried fruit, cereal, flour, nuts. In large almond moth infestations, almond moths will even build their cocoons on the walls of cabinets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Get Rid of Almond Moths in the Home?
Inspect areas where food is stored, including packaging as well as your pantries and cabinets. If food is covered in webbing, discard it. More likely than not, you’ve got moths.
When you buy any new food items, be sure to put them in containers where insects can’t reach them. Glass or plasticware should do the trick. Keep up this practice until you believe the infestation to be resolved. Periodically check your food to make sure there are no signs of the moth’s return.
Constant cleanliness is key to keeping these pantry pests away. Regular sweeping and cleaning of food and crumbs will help deter the moths from snacking on your cereals and sandwich bread.
What are the Benefits of Professional Almond Moth Pest Control?
A pest management professional has the education, equipment, and skills necessary to effectively address an almond moth problem.
Finding and treating the almond moths can be challenging, especially if the infestation is spread throughout the kitchen and pantry.
A pest management professional provides their expertise to identify the pest problem and determine the best possible solution to resolve the almond moth infestation.
