Indian meal moth

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments where dried food is stored, such as kitchens, pantries, and food processing plants.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide range of dry foodstuffs including cereals, grains, flour, pasta, rice, nuts, dried fruit, and pet food.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and are often seen flying in a zigzag pattern. The larvae spin silk webbing over the food source while feeding. The female can lay several hundred eggs directly onto or near food sources.

Risks & Benefits

They are major pantry pests that contaminate food products with silk, frass (droppings), and cocoons, making the food unfit for consumption. They pose no direct health risk or bite to humans, but cause significant economic waste.

Identified on: 5/17/2026