Don't Let This Pest Find A Meal in Your Cupboards

October 15, 2019

In: Pantry Pests

Imagine you're sitting down to breakfast, and as you pour out your cereal, it seems to be moving. If Indian meal moths have managed to get into the box, the movement will likely be from the larvae feeding on your food. No one wants to encounter this situation. You don't want to find meal moths in your cereal, your oats, your flour, or any other item in your pantry. If you've never heard of Indian meal moths, don't worry! We have all the information you need on these pantry pests and how to get rid of them. Read on to find out more.

 

Indian Meal Moths

Indian meal moths are known as pantry pests because they feed on many of the staple food items you have in your pantry. You can find them in nuts, grains, pasta, pet food, or tobacco. You can also find them away from the kitchen, in your clothing or carpets. If you have Indian meal moths in your home, you probably picked them up with your groceries, and they then spread to other items in your kitchen.
 
Indian meal moths are small, often less than ½ inch. Their wings can be a reddish-brown or pale grey. There are a few different species of meal moths, and they come in many different colors and shades. If you aren't sure if you have meal moths, your best bet is to have professional pest control technicians come for an inspection. You may be more likely to see the larvae before the moths. These caterpillars are cream-colored with a brown head. Meal moths have a life cycle that includes egg, larvae, and then adults. Most often, moths will lay their eggs directly in a food source, such as the box of cereal that you then take home. Meal moths travel along with shipping and can be found almost anywhere on the globe since they are in many commodities.

 

Dangers of Indian Meal Moths

Thankfully, Indian meal moths aren't dangerous to humans. However, they do contaminate food, and any food found with a meal moth infestation you should discard immediately. Because of this, you'll want to catch meal moths quickly so they can't contaminate all the food in your pantry.

 

Preventing Indian Meal Moths

Because meal moths come to your house in food, you should inspect any grains, cereals, nuts, or other products that attract meal moths before purchasing. If you see an open container or a cardboard box with holes, opt for a different product. Once you bring food home, keep all of it in tightly sealed containers made out of plastic or glass to prevent Indian meal moths from getting inside.

If pantry pests do get into your house, American Pest Solutions has the tools to get them out. Infestations can be messy and expensive. Instead of trying to fight off meal moths yourself, let the professionals create a treatment plan that will effectively eliminate them from your home. We can also help you create a prevention plan so that your pantry can stay pest-free.