Bug Identifier
Indianmeal Moth Larva
Community identification

Indianmeal Moth Larva

Plodia interpunctella

Order & Family
Lepidoptera, Pyralidae
Size
10 to 12 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches) at maturity
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Grain storage facilities, pantries, food warehouses, and residential kitchens worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Stored food products including grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, flour, chocolate, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae spin silk webbing through the food they inhabit as they move and feed. They often crawl away from their food source to pupate in wall crevices or ceiling corners.

Risks & Benefits

They are a major economic pest that contaminates household food supplies with webbing and frass. While they do not bite or carry diseases, infested food should be discarded as it is unsanitary for human consumption.