Indian meal moth (larvae/silken webbing)
Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size: Larvae grow up to 12-13 mm (0.5 inches); adults have a wingspan of 16-20 mm
Natural Habitat
Pantries, food processing plants, and grocery stores where stored grains are present
Diet & Feeding
Stored food products including grains, flour, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and pet food
Behavior Patterns
Larvae spin characteristic silken webbing as they feed, which binds food particles together. They often crawl away from food sources to find crevices to pupate.
Risks & Benefits
Significant household pest; they contaminate food with webbing, silk, and waste, making it unfit for consumption. They pose no physical danger to humans.
Identified on: 3/17/2026