Indian meal moth

Natural Habitat

Worldwide in human structures, specifically pantries, food storage facilities, and grocery stores where dry goods are kept.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on dry plant-based foods including cereal, flour, pasta, rice, nuts, dried fruit, birdseed, and chocolate. Adults do not feed.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light; they often fly in a zigzag pattern. Females lay eggs directly on or near food sources. Larvae produce silk webbing in the food products they infest.

Risks & Benefits

Major household pest; they contaminate food with webbing, cocoons, and waste, making it unfit for consumption. They pose no direct physical threat to humans but cause significant food waste.

Identified on: 12/26/2025