Bug Identifier
Pantry Moth (Larva Stage)
Community identification

Pantry Moth (Larva Stage)

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size
12 mm to 13 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Domestic pantries, food processing plants, and grain silos

Diet & Feeding

Stored grains, flour, cereal, dry pet food, chocolate, and nuts

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing in food sources as they feed; they often crawl away from food sources to find crevices for pupation.

Risks & Benefits

A major household pest that causes significant food waste through contamination, though they pose no direct health or physical risk to humans.