Indian meal moth
Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size: 8 mm to 10 mm in length with a 16 mm to 20 mm wingspan.
Natural Habitat
Worldwide in food storage areas like pantries, warehouses, and grocery stores.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on stored grains, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, and pet food.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light; larvae spin silk webbing in food sources as they feed.
Risks & Benefits
Major pest that causes food contamination and spoilage; they pose no direct health risk to humans but cause economic loss.
Identified on: 6/21/2026