
Community identification
Indian Meal Moth (Larva/Pupa Case)
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
- Size
- 8 to 12 mm long (larvae)
Natural Habitat
Pantries, kitchens, food storage facilities, and agricultural grain storage locations
Diet & Feeding
Stored dry food products including grains, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, flour, and pet food
Behavior Patterns
Larvae spin silk webs through infested food products as they feed, creating silken cocoons or pupal cases when preparing to transform into adult moths
Risks & Benefits
Major household and commercial pest that contaminates stored dry foods with silk webbing, frass, and shed skins; harmless directly to humans as they do not bite or sting