How to Make Your Own Trap for Pantry Moths

Set the traps in the pantry or wherever you store dry food items.

If you see adult pantry moths flying around your home, you can be guaranteed that you have a moth infestation. Steps to get rid of the moths include cleaning out your pantry, looking for foods that have been infested -- keep in mind that pantry moth eggs and larvae are very difficult to see -- and trapping the adult moths. A homemade trap made out of a few items will attract adult male moths, stopping the moths from breeding. The trap is an effective and non-toxic way to rid the home of these pests.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Petroleum jelly
• Pheromone lure

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle 8 to 12 inches long by 3 to 5 inches wide with the scissors. The trap should be small enough to fit unobtrusively in the pantry or any other area where a moth infestation is occurring.

2. Fold the piece of cardboard in half lengthwise. The cardboard should be tent-like in shape.

3. Cover the underside of the cardboard "tent" with a coating of petroleum jelly. The petroleum jelly acts as the trap's glue.

4. Place a pheromone lure underneath the cardboard. While the pheromone draws the male moths to the trap, it will not draw female moths. The goal of this trap is to disrupt the moths' breeding cycle by trapping the males. Pheromone lures can be purchased at home and garden stores and online.

5. Check the trap after a few days. Replace the cardboard and petroleum jelly trap as needed. Most lures last from three to four months, depending on the pheromone brand being used.

References

• Pest Cemetery: Making your own glue traps
• Pantry Moth Trap: How to get rid of moths