Bug Identifier
Indian Meal Moth (Larva/Pupa stages)
Community identification

Indian Meal Moth (Larva/Pupa stages)

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size
Larvae reach 12-13 mm (0.5 in) in length; adults have a wingspan of 16-20 mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Stored food products such as grains, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and pet foods; commonly found in pantries and commercial kitchens.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide range of dry plant-based foods including flour, cornmeal, birdseed, chocolate, and spices.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae produce characteristic silken webbing as they feed, which binds food particles together. They often crawl away from the food source to pupate in crevices or at the ceiling-wall junction.

Risks & Benefits

Major household and economic pest that causes food spoilage through contamination with excrement and webbing; no direct health risk to humans, but can be difficult to eradicate once established.