Indian meal moth (larva stage)

Natural Habitat

Found globally indoors, specifically in food storage areas like pantries, warehouses, and grocery stores.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on a wide range of dry stored food products including grains, flour, cereal, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing over the food source they are consuming. When ready to pupate, they often crawl away from the food source to walls or ceiling corners.

Risks & Benefits

They are major pantry pests that contaminate food with silk, frass (feces), and shed skins. There is no direct health risk to humans, but infested food should be discarded as it is unsanitary.

Identified on: 3/16/2026