How to Eradicate Pantry Moths and Worms
The Indian meal moth, referred to as the pantry moth, eats grain and is a common pantry and kitchen pest. It has brown and white wings with transparent patches and a brown, spotted body. Its larvae are called waxworms and cause significantly more damage than adult moths. Eradicating these moths may prove challenging, but using a combination of several pest control strategies is typically effective.
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Instructions
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Place any new grains you purchase in your freezer for a week before moving to the pantry. Though this may seem extreme, most pantry moth infestations are caused by food that was infested before it came to your home. By freezing food before eating it, you kill moth eggs, larvae and adults.
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Throw away anything infested with pantry moths. Indian meal moths frequently leave a webbed residue in foods they have infested, so look for this telltale sign in all grains. Don't just put the food in the trash. Completely remove it from your home, or you may end up with a moth infestation in your trash that quickly moves back to the pantry.
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Vacuum areas infested by moths thoroughly. Focus especially on corners and any holes in your pantry, which are prime egg-laying locations.
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Purchase a pheromone-based moth trap. These are the most effective methods available to prevent adult moths from breeding. The male is attracted to the scent of the trap, which smells like a female. Upon entering the trap, he becomes stuck and cannot breed.
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Tips & Warnings
Pantry moths chew through plastic. If you have an infestation, check plastic bags and containers to ensure there are no moths inside.
Pesticides are unlikely to work with pantry moths and are dangerous since they must come into close contact with your food. Avoid using them.
Folk remedies such as boric acid and spearmint gum are also unlikely to work. The moths may not die, but will move to other food items, leaving the boric acid on the food.
References
- "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders"; National Audubon Society; 1980
- "National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders and Related Species of North America"; Arthur Evans, et al.; 2007
- Moth Traps For Less: How to Get Rid of Moths
