
Community identification
Pantry moth larva (Indianmeal moth caterpillar)
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
- Size
- 12 - 13 mm (approximately 1/2 inch)
Natural Habitat
Pantries, kitchens, and food storage areas containing grain-based products
Diet & Feeding
Stored dry goods such as cereal, flour, nuts, pet food, and dried fruit
Behavior Patterns
Spinning silken webs inside food containers and crawling on walls or ceilings when searching for a place to pupate
Risks & Benefits
Pests that contaminate food sources with silk webbing and frass; no direct physical risk but cause significant economic loss through food waste