Indian Meal Moth

Natural Habitat

Worldwide in human structures, particularly pantries, kitchens, and food storage facilities containing grain-based products.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on stored food products including flour, cereal, dry pet food, birdseed, nuts, pasta, and dried fruit. Adults do not feed.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal flyers attracted to light. Larvae spin silken webs across the surface of contaminated food, where they pupate and eventually emerge as moths.

Risks & Benefits

Non-toxic and do not bite or sting, but they are major household and agricultural pests that contaminate food supplies through webbing, feces, and cast skins.

Identified on: 3/6/2026