Indian meal moth

Natural Habitat

Typically found in households, commercial kitchens, and food storage facilities containing dry goods.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on stored grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, flour, spices, and chocolate.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal adults fly in a zig-zag pattern. Larvae spin silken webs over food surfaces they infest; females can lay up to 400 eggs.

Risks & Benefits

Major household pest that contaminates food with webbing and frass; however, they pose no direct physical health risk or sting/bite hazard to humans.

Identified on: 5/30/2026