
Community identification
Indian meal moth (larva/pupa fragment)
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera, Pyralidae
- Size
- Larvae grow to approximately 10–12 mm; adults have an 18–20 mm wingspan
Natural Habitat
Grain storage facilities, pantries, food processing plants, and kitchens
Diet & Feeding
Stored food products including grains, cereals, flour, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and pet food
Behavior Patterns
Larvae spin silk webbing through food sources as they feed; they often crawl away from food sources to pupate in crevices or high on walls
Risks & Benefits
Major household and commercial pest that causes significant food waste through contamination with webbing and frass; however, they pose no direct health risk or bite to humans