Indian meal moth
Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size: Wingspan of 16–20 mm; body length of 8–10 mm
Natural Habitat
Warehouses, grocery stores, and home kitchens/pantries where stored food is present
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on grain products, seeds, dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, and pet food; adults do not feed
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal flyers attracted to light; larvae spin silk webbing over food sources and often crawl to wall-ceiling junctions to pupate
Risks & Benefits
Major pest of stored food products causing contamination through waste and webbing; harmless to humans and pets physically but results in food waste
Identified on: 3/6/2026