Indian meal moth larva

Natural Habitat

Pantries, warehouses, grocery stores, and food processing facilities worldwide

Diet & Feeding

Stored grains, flour, cornmeal, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, pet food, and chocolate

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing over food sources as they feed; they move away from food sources to find crevices or wall-ceiling junctions to pupate.

Risks & Benefits

Significant household and commercial pest that contaminates food with webbing and frass (waste); non-toxic to humans but results in significant food waste.

Identified on: 5/18/2026