
Community identification
Pantry Moth Larva
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
- Size
- 10 to 12 mm in length (larvae)
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.