Indian Meal Moth
Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera (Order), Pyralidae (Family)
Size: 8–10 mm long with a wingspan of about 16–20 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in kitchens, pantries, food processing plants, and grocery stores where dried goods are stored.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on stored grains, cereals, nuts, dried fruits, flour, spices, birdseed, and dry pet food. Adults generally do not feed.
Behavior Patterns
Adults fly in a zigzag pattern and are attracted to light, usually active at dusk or night. The distinctive wing pattern features a reddish-brown or copper lower half and a grey/tan upper half. Larvae leave silk webbing in food products.
Risks & Benefits
No physical harm to humans (they do not bite or sting). Their primary risk is economic and nuisance as a major pantry pest, contaminating food with webbing, frass (droppings), and cast skins.
Identified on: 3/5/2026