Bug Identifier
Pantry Moth Larva
Community identification

Pantry Moth Larva

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size
10 to 12 mm in length (larvae)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Pantries, kitchens, and food storage facilities containing dry goods such as grains, cereals, and nuts.

Diet & Feeding

Dry stored products including flour, pasta, birdseed, dried fruit, chocolate, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silken webs as they feed, often causing clumping in food products; they frequently crawl away from food sources to pupate in wall crevices or ceiling corners.

Risks & Benefits

A significant domestic pest that causes food spoilage and contamination; they pose no direct health risk to humans but result in economic loss through wasted food.