| Appearance |
 Reddish
copper color on
its otherwise white wings;
small, up to 5/8-inch. The indianmeal moth was given its name after an insect scientist found it
feeding on corn meal, also known as Indian meal. |
| Habitat |
|
As a larva, the Indian meal moth
spins a web around
foods, rendering it unusable; grains, dried fruits, nuts, dog food, beans,
etc. This moth usually enters homes in boxes or bags of infested foods. It appears
in all points of the food processing chain and is the most common moth of stored,
dried foods, as well as the pest moth most often seen in homes. Adult meal moths
tend to avoid light and rest quietly on walls and ceilings, becoming active after
dusk. |
| Diet |
| A wide variety of food items including flour, cereal, nuts, grains, chocolate,
birdseed and dried pet foods . |
| Control |
|
All dried
food products need to be inspected, along
with spices, potpourri and stored bird seed. Discard all infested
packages and
products. Clean spilled grain and infested cabinet areas using a vacuum
followed by soapy water. Store all dried food goods in a glass or
plastic
container with a tight lid to limit spreading if one food becomes
infested.
Consider storing cereals and similar foods in the refrigerator to limit
stored
pantry pest problems. |
|
