Indian meal moth (Adult)

Commonly found in residential pantries, commercial food warehouses, and grocery stores where food is stored.

Larvae feed on a wide variety of dried foods including flour, cereal, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, and pet food; adults do not feed.

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. Females can lay up to 400 eggs directly on food sources. The life cycle can be completed in 28 days under ideal conditions.

Major household and commercial pest. They cause significant food waste through contamination with silk webbing and frass (waste). They do not bite or carry diseases but make food unfit for consumption.