
Community identification
Indian meal moth (larva)
Plodia interpunctella
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
- Size
- 8 mm to 12 mm in length (larval stage)
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