Bug Identifier
Indian meal moth (larva)
Community identification

Indian meal moth (larva)

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Size
8 mm to 12 mm in length (larval stage)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Pantries, granaries, and food processing facilities worldwide

Diet & Feeding

Dry goods including cereal, flour, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and birdseed

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin distinctive silk webbing in food sources as they feed; they often crawl away from food sources to pupate in wall/ceiling crevices

Risks & Benefits

Significant economic pest causing food spoilage; non-toxic to humans but larvae and webbing contaminate household food supplies