Get to Know More About Pantry Moths - What Do They Like and Where Do They Come From?

[Micheal Alexander]

Your home recently became infested with tiny grey moths, flapping erratically around your kitchen. You may have seen suspicious webs in a cereal box. Likely that you might be sharing your food with pantry moths. Pantry moths are found on every continent except Antarctica and feed on rice, grains, flour, pasta, cereals, dried fruits, spices, seeds, nuts, and other dried food. In the U.S. pantry moths are found almost every state and city. Powerful Pantry Moth Trap

Pantry Moths are known by several common names, including meal moth, Indian meal moth, flour moth, grain moth, and almond moth. Adult moths are quite small (1/4 to 3/8 inch in length) with a wingspan of 1/2 to 3/4 inch.

Pantry moth adults have grey/brownish-colored wings with bronze or tan bands near the wing tips.

One may think that the harm comes from the adult moths, however, adult moths do not feed on pantry goods at all. The trouble arises when female moths lay their eggs in or around our food. The tiny eggs hatch into barely visible cream-colored larvae small enough to crawl into poorly sealed food containers. There, they begin to feed. Pantry and Clothes Moth Trap

The kitchens in the house are full of unsealed containers and spilled food, which makes it an irresistible smorgasbord for female pantry moths looking for a place to lay eggs. Like many insects, pantry moths develop more quickly at warmer temperatures. Females also lay more eggs and larvae are more likely to survive to adulthood at these temperatures, but prolonged exposure to temperatures above 40℃ is lethal to eggs and larvae.

As they grow, larvae produce large amounts of silk webbing and feces, both of which can contaminate food.

Once a cocoon reaches its full size, it leaves the food in search of a safe space to make a cocoon, usually a crack, container lid, crevice, or corner. Sometimes they turn up in the hinges.