Indian meal moth (larva/pupa fragment)

Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family: Lepidoptera, Pyralidae

Size: Larvae grow to approximately 10–12 mm; adults have an 18–20 mm wingspan

Indian meal moth (larva/pupa fragment)

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

Identified on: 5/18/2026