How to Kill Flour Moths

Flour moths also bear the name "pantry moths" because they feed on all sorts of pantry materials.

Flour moths also bear the name pantry moths or Indian meal moths as they congregate and hatch larvae in a variety of dried, non-refrigerated goods such as flour, cake mixes, rice, grains, dog food, bird seed, cereals and comparable items. Killing flour moths can sometimes pose a conundrum as you may wish to avoid poisonous that could pose a danger in an environment full of food. However, there are measures you can take that are safe for you and your family. Does this Spark an idea?

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Bucket
Hot water
1/4 cup all-purpose soap cleanser
Rubber gloves
Sponge
Garbage can
Pheromone traps
Pyrethrum spray

Instructions

- 1
  
  Fill a bucket with water that is as hot as you can stand. Add 1 cup of all-purpose soap-based cleanser. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and dip a sponge in the mixture, wringing it out.
- 2
  
  Wipe down all the cupboard, shelves and counters where you've seen flour moths. Pull up shelf paper and scrub under there as well, as moths can hide beneath the paper.
- 3
  
  Go through all your dry goods: flour, pasta, rice, oatmeal, grains, cake and brownie mixes and check for small holes or tiny worms. Throw out affected food.
- 4
  
  Place pheromone traps in your cupboards and any other area where you've seen flour moths. The traps lure moths by giving off a mating scent. Incoming moths get stuck to one of the sticky sides of the trap. Throw out the traps once moths get stuck in them and repeat with new traps until no more moths appear.
- 5
  
  Spray the nooks and crannies of the cupboard with pyrethrum, a chrysanthemum-based insecticide that's safe to spray around food. Spray daily.