Indian Meal Moth Larva

Typically found indoors in pantries, cupboards, granaries, and warehouses where dried food goods are stored.

Feeds on a wide variety of stored dry goods including flour, grains, cereal, dried fruits, nuts, beans, chocolate, and pet food.

Larvae spin silk webbing as they feed, which often clumps food together. When ready to pupate, they often crawl away from the food source up walls or onto ceilings, which is when they are most commonly spotted.

Risks: Major pantry pest that contaminates food with feces, webbing, and cast skins, causing economic loss and food waste. They are generally not a direct health threat such as biting or stinging, but eating contaminated food is undesirable. Benefits: None in a household setting.