Indian Meal Moth
Facts to Know about the Indian Meal Moth
Anyone who has had to throw away a food item such as cornmeal or cereal because of an insect infestation probably knows something about the Indian meal moth, even if not by name.
Probably the most common of the “pantry pests”, the Indian meal moth is a small creature; measuring only about half an inch in length at adult size. Often confused with another household insect pest, the clothes moth, the Indian meal moth is slightly different in coloration with bi-colored wings. They are often seen in the caterpillar stage, which is when the food infestation will take place, and will be identified as a whitish colored worm-type creature with brown heads. They are not fussy eaters, and can be found in a wide variety of food stuffs including dried herbs, nuts, powdered milk, dry pet food and bird seed.
If an infestation is taking place in your pantry, there are noticeable signs which will almost certainly be located in the vicinity of food storage. You may see some weakly fluttering moths in that general area; not seeming to go anywhere, just flitting around aimlessly. The adult Indian meal moth only lives for approximately 1 week; long enough to mate and the females to lay eggs. The eggs take anywhere from two to fourteen days to hatch, depending on the room temperature. Again dependant upon the room conditions, the larvae stage can last as long as 5 weeks; feeding upon whatever food source is available.
The best method of eliminating an infestation is to thoroughly go through your pantry, checking each item individually. Any signs of webbing, larvae or a fine gritty substance that is actually the moth’s waste will prove the presence of these pesky creatures. All items with these signs should immediately be tossed in the trash, and the trash taken directly outside the home. The old adage, “when in doubt, throw it out”, would apply to this situation. The only exception to the rule may be for a piece of art that is constructed with food items such as pasta or seeds. It is possible to salvage these items, as the larvae and eggs can be effectively killed by freezing the items. Once you have given your pantry the once over, vacuum shelves thoroughly and wash them with an antibacterial cleaner. Only then should you return safe items back to the area.
To prevent future infestations, contain any targeted food items in a tightly covered container, such as mason jars. The Indian meal moth is small, and can get into very tight crevices of boxes. It is best to protect these items from the onset and avoid the eventual throw away and clean up task.
The Indian meal moth can certainly create disruption and havoc in your food stores, but infestation can be prevented with the foresight and knowledge presented here of the “pantry pest”.