Indian Meal Moth (often confused with just 'Pantry Moth')

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in dry food storage areas like pantries, cupboards, and grocery stores. In the wild, they frequent grain fields or areas with stored seeds.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on stored dry goods including grains, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, birdseed, and pet food. Adult moths do not feed.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. Females lay hundreds of sticky eggs directly onto food sources. The larvae spin silken webs as they feed, which is often the first visible sign of infestation.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Major pest of stored food products; they contaminate large quantities of food with webbing, frass (waste), and shed skins, causing economic loss and food waste. They pose no direct health threat (they don't bite or sting) but are a nuisance.

Identified on: 3/1/2026