Indian meal moth (larva)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in pantries, kitchens, and food storage facilities where dry goods are kept.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on a wide variety of dry stored products including cereal, flour, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silken webs as they feed across the surface of a food source. They often leave the food source to seek out crevices or high corners of walls and ceilings to pupate.

Risks & Benefits

A major household and commercial pest that causes significant economic loss through food contamination. While not known to transmit diseases, they contaminate food with silk webbing, waste (frass), and cast skins.

Identified on: 3/12/2026