How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths

The pantry moth or Indian Meal Moth is a common pest in pantries and cupboards, feeding on foods with a high starch or sugar content. While they are a nuisance, these moths can be controlled without chemicals by eliminating the existing infestation and protecting food from re-infestation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavy-duty zip-top bags
• Airtight containers
• Plastic wrap

1. Identify all infested materials. Meal moths feed primarily on grains, but will go after foods with a high sugar content, including dried fruit, candies, chocolate, cocoa powder and pudding mixes, so check every item in the pantry or cupboard. Don’t forget birdseed and pet food. Signs that a product is infested include bits of webbing attached to the inside of the container, several grains stuck together in a clump, and the presence of larvae or mature moths in the container. Indian Meal Moth larvae resemble a grain of rice with a dark spot at one end. To thoroughly check flours and whole grains, spread it out on a cookie sheet to inspect.

2. Dispose of all infested material. It is not enough to get the infested products out of the cupboard. You need to get them out of the house as quickly as possible. Tightly wrap infested items to ensure that no moths or larvae escape.

3. Thoroughly clean pantry and cupboards. Vacuum up spills and wipe down all surfaces, including the undersides of shelves. Meal moths pupate in crevices, so if the cupboard or pantry shelves are removable, take them out and thoroughly clean the brackets and where the shelf rests on the support brackets.

4. Prevent re-infestation by denying moths access to food sources. Meal moths cannot survive where they do not have access to a food supply, so the key is to make certain that any potential food source is protected. Keep flour in airtight containers, zip-top bags or zip-top bags in airtight containers. For screw-top storage containers, consider placing a double layer of plastic wrap under the lid before you screw it on to ensure a tight seal. Double-bag candies, chocolates, dried fruits, pudding mixes and dry soup mixes in two sealed zip-top bags. Consider storing whole grains in the freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• Monitor your storage area after an eradication attempt. If you missed any eggs or larvae, signs of re-infestation will show up within a month or two.

Resources

• Colorado State University fact sheet on Indian Meal Moths, including photos to help you identify them

[brianprice6]

on 10/22/2009 You have two problems - getting rid of the moths - and getting rid of moth eggs. In addition to the excellent suggestions above I first vacummed the moths up where ever I found them, on walls, pantry etc. After turning off the vacuum each time I sealed the end so the moths couldn't exit, threw away the bag and put the vacuum in the garage where it is cold. I also put some non-food items in the garage for a while, and other food items in the freezer which will kill the eggs. The eggs can only be killed by washing them away - I used Lysol Chlorine Disinfectant just to be sure. I found the eggs everywhere, bottom side of cans, rubber gromets, cardboard containers for non-food items and so forth. So you really have to be diligent with this. It took me over 10 hours in a small kitchen to do this.