Indian Meal Moth Larva
Scientific Name: Plodia interpunctella
Order & Family: Lepidoptera, Pyralidae
Size: Approximately 1/2 inch (12 mm) in length when mature
Natural Habitat
Stored food products such as grains, flours, cereals, nuts, and dried fruits in pantries and warehouses
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on dried plant-based foods, weaving silken webs through the material
Behavior Patterns
Larvae create silk webbing that clumps food particles together. They often crawl away from their food source to pupate in cracks or crevices
Risks & Benefits
Significant pantry pest that causes food spoilage; no direct health risk to humans but infestations require disposal of contaminated goods
Identified on: 12/27/2025