Indian meal moth (larva)

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, primarily in indoor environments where stored dry foods are kept, such as pantries, warehouses, and grocery stores.

Diet & Feeding

Stored grains, cereal, flour, pasta, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, birdseed, and dry pet food.

Behavior Patterns

The larvae spin silky webbing over the food source they inhabit. When ready to pupate, they often wander away from the food source, crawling up walls or across ceilings to find a crevice to create a cocoon.

Risks & Benefits

They are a major economic pest of stored food. While they do not bite or spread disease, they contaminate food with webbing, frass (feces), and shed skins, making it unfit for human consumption.

Identified on: 3/24/2026