
Community identification
Pantry Moth Larva
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
- Size
- 12-13 mm (approx. 0.5 inches) for mature larvae
Natural Habitat
Stored food products such as grains, cereals, nuts, and dry pet food
Diet & Feeding
Dry organic materials including flour, pasta, seeds, spices, and chocolate
Behavior Patterns
Spin silken webs within food sources; craw out of food containers to pupate in wall/ceiling crevices
Risks & Benefits
Major household pest; contaminates food with silk, frass, and shed skins, making it unfit for consumption