Indian Meal Moths

 

Indian Meal Moths

Indian Meal Moths 101 (Plodia interpunctella)

Also known as pantry moths, the Indian meal moth are both some of the most common and troublesome kitchen pests. In particular, they tend to inhabit pantries, causing significant damage and spoiling food. Female meal moths can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, which they deposit in or directly next to sources of food. The larvae begin feeding on the food products immediately after hatching and produce a silky webbing as they move and grow, often leading to the infested food being covered in tangles of filthy webbing. The entire life cycle of these moths can be fulfilled within 27 to 305 days during which time they can wreak havoc on your pantry.  

Appearance

Eggs: Deposited either alone, or in clusters, the eggs are particularly tiny, ranging only 0.3 to 0.5 mm in length. They are off-white or grey in color and are ovoid in shape. Larvae: Like most larvae, the adolescent Indian meal moths are worm-like in shape and appearance. Their bodies are a milky off-white with darker, brown-colored heads. They pass through several stages in their larval form called instars, each which ends with a molt. At their final instar, the larvae are roughly 0.5 inches long. Pupae: To transition from larvae to adults, the Indian meal moths enter a pupae stage in which they weave a cocoon around themselves to undergo the transformation. The cocoon appears off-white/grey with the pale brown color of the pupa itself visible through the thin silk lining. Adults: Adult meal moths measure an average of 0.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 5/8ths of an inch. They are brownish grey in color with occasional reddish/copper hues.

Diet

Indian meal moths like to both consume and lay their eggs in dry, stored products. Some of the most commonly targeted foods include flour & other grain products, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, spices, and pet food.

Signs of an Infestation

There are several signs that can point to an Indian meal moth infestation:

• Clumping of food products (upon close inspection this usually is due to the webbing created by meal moth larvae)
• Nuts or seeds with tiny gnaw marks in them
• Tiny silk strands/webbing on or around food
• Small empty cocoons on edges of packaging
• Seeing larvae or adult Indian meal moths on, in, or around food

Preventative Actions

Once you have them, Indian meal moths can be a headache to get rid of, making preventative actions very important. Some of the steps you can take include:

• Keeping your pantry tidy and clean by regularly wiping down shelves, ensuring there is no product residue or crumbs left around, and surfaces are sanitized
• Regularly vacuum and wipe down other areas in the kitchen
• Briefly inspect dry goods that you’ve purchased and plan to bring into your home for any evidence of Indian meal moths to prevent bringing them in your home
• Ensure that your stored foods are all properly sealed in airtight containers
• Reduce the number of excess foods stored in your pantry as long-term storage of dry goods can increase your chances of an infestation

Are They Making a Meal of Your Pantry?

If your pantry is plagued with meal moths, you need quick and efficient pest removal. At Pointe Pest Control, we can help you get rid of those nasty little pests as well as providing you with tips and tricks to keep them away in the future. No one should have to deal with an infestation of insects in their food. Give us a call today to schedule your first treatment for Indian meal moth extermination.

Citation

Fasulo, T. and Knox, A. (2015) Indianmeal Moth – Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Available at: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/stored/indianmeal_moth.HTM (Accessed: October 22, 2021). Johnson, D. (no date) Insect pests of stored grain: Indianmeal Moth, Entomology at the University of Kentucky. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Available at: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef136 (Accessed: October 22, 2021). Klass, C. and Raffensperger, E. (2012) Indian meal moth – cornell university, Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. Cornell University Department of Entomology. Available at: http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/Indian-Meal-Moth.pdf (Accessed: October 22, 2021).