Indian Meal Moth Larva

Natural Habitat

Food storage areas such as pantries, kitchens, and warehouses

Diet & Feeding

Stored dry goods including flour, cereal, cornmeal, rice, nuts, dried fruit, and pet food

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing over the surface of their food source, creating 'clumps.' They eventually crawl away from food to find a crevice to pupate.

Risks & Benefits

Significant pantry pest that causes food waste through contamination with webbing and frass. They do not bite or carry diseases but are a major nuisance.

Identified on: 3/18/2026