Bug Identifier
Pantry Moth Larva
Community identification

Pantry Moth Larva

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size
12-13 mm (approx. 0.5 inches) for mature larvae
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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