Indian meal moth (larva)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in residential pantries, grocery stores, and food processing facilities worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on stored dried food products including grains, flour, cereal, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing through the food they consume, creating mats or clumps. They often crawl away from their food source to walls or ceilings to spin a cocoon and pupate.

Risks & Benefits

Non-toxic and does not bite or sting, but is a major economic pest that contaminates food with webbing, frass, and discarded cocoons, rendering it unfit for human consumption.

Identified on: 1/9/2026