Moth Problems in a Kitchen Pantry
When you see tiny moths flying around your television screen or house lights in the evening, check your pantry. Look carefully and you'll probably see evidence of an Indian meal moth infestation. The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) was named by entomologist Asa Fitch after he found their larvae in cornmeal, also called Indian meal. It will take some cleanup and several preventive measures, but a moth-free pantry is possible. Does this Spark an idea?
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Description
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The Indian meal moth is about 3/8 inch long with wings that are pale gray at the base and reddish brown at the tips. When female moths are ready to mate, they release a pheromone that males can detect from a distance of 25 to 50 feet. The females live just over a week, but they can lay up to 350 eggs during that time. The larvae must feed before they pupate in a silken cocoon, emerging a few days later as a moth. The development from egg to adult takes one to two months.
Preferred Foods
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The Indian meal moth larva will eat just about any grain-based food, including flour, whole grains, cereal, cake mixes, crackers and pasta. They will also feed on dried fruits, seeds, spices, nuts, powdered milk, candies, dried soup, chocolate and more. A common source of infestation is dry pet food, and nuts hidden away by squirrels in the attic or chimney can also attract moths.
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Locating Infestations
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Sticky traps are available that include a synthesized version of the meal moth pheromone. Since the traps attract only male moths, they are not a reliable method of eliminating the pests, but they work well for locating their populations. In addition to moths fly through your home, you may see the larvae crawling across the walls or ceiling.
Treatment
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Once you've confirmed that your pantry has become a feeding ground for Indian meal moths, it's time for a complete clean-out and clean-up. Remove everything from the pantry, including food products, containers, utensils, appliances and shelf paper. Inspect all foods and spices. Look for larvae and the telltale silken webs that they create as they feed. Throw away all infested foods. Vacuum all crevices, cracks and other out-of-the-way places where larvae may be pupating. Wash shelves and counters with hot, soapy water.
Prevention
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Guard against reinfestation through preventive measures. Indian meal moths may enter your home with the groceries, so inspect all food packages before putting them in the pantry. Remove commercial packaging and store susceptible foodstuffs in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids. To be thorough, use a cold treatment to kill any eggs in grain-based products. Freeze them for three days, then store them at room temperature for three days. Return them to the freezer for another three days and they will be ready for storage in the pantry. Clean up food spills immediately to make sure you're not leaving food for moth larvae, and store dry pet food and birdseed in sealed containers in a garage or storage building.
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References
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension; Managing Pantry Pests; Barb Ogg, Ph.D.
- University of Illinois Extension; Indianmeal Moths...; Sandra Mason, November 2004
- Colorado State University Extension; Indian Meal Moth; W.S. Cranshaw
- Auburn University Extension; Managing Indian Meal Moths; Xing Ping Hu, et al.; October 2000
- West Virginia University Extension; Indian Meal Moth; Peggy K. Powell, Ph.D.
