Blog

Don't think that a lack of cornmeal prevent moths in the pantry. ... While Indian Meal Moths will almost always start an eating rampage in your grain section, it is not uncommon for them to move to dried fruits, nuts, coffee beans and even candy and chocolate.

Telltale signs of pantry moth infestations include webbing along the corners of packages or on the product inside, flour or cereal products with an unpleasant odor, or sticky secretions that cause grains to clump together.

What do Pantry Moths Look Like? While they do look like clothes moths, there are some distinctive features that make pantry moths stand out. With a wingspan of 5/8-inch, they really are rather small. Their wings have a pale greyish tint and some outer wings are more reddish brown.

Toss any infested foods that you find, and wipe down any affected cans with undiluted vinegar to kill the larvae. Infested items should go straight to your outdoor trash can. Placing them in your kitchen trash will only spread the problem.Dec 14, 2021

Wash the inside of the pantry or cabinet with soap and water, then with a weak bleach solution. Rinse with a mixture of water, vinegar, and peppermint oil to kill eggs and repel moths. If you have adjustable shelves or pegboard, grab a toothpick and clean out the little peg holes!

You may discover dusty-looking webs in crevices around your cupboards, behind light or electric switch panels, even in the gaps between your cupboard and wall. Then, you'll find little brown moths flying around your house. That's because, despite their name, pantry moths do not always remain in the kitchen.Dec 2, 2021

When you find a pantry moth flying around it is an adult. Having left the Larval and pupa stage, the adult pantry moth has finished feeding and has only 1 mission: To Create More Moths! Those moths will fly all over the house, typically at night, drawn to light and looking for a mate.

Can pantry moths live or survive in the refrigerator? No. Though pantry moths can live almost anywhere in the home; they can't survive place with freezing temperatures. It is the reason why it is advisable to store food grain products in the refrigerator for some days after shopping for groceries.Dec 6, 2019

Pantry moths may be present in flying adult form or in the earlier pantry moth life-cycle stages (eggs and larvae). ... Pantry moth larvae are small but far easier to identify than food moth eggs - they'll be between ¼ and ½ inch long, and you may see some movement in the food.Feb 7, 2020

In the case of moths that are feeding in your closet, you can destroy them using Aerosol sprays that are designed to kill moths. For a larger infestation, such as one that is in your pantry and closet, you need to use bug bombs. These require you to leave the house for several hours to properly destroy the moths.

Fill sachets with dried lavender, or dip cotton balls in lavender essential oil. Then, place them in your closets, drawers, and boxes of off-season clothes. Lavender smells great to us, but it's highly repellent to moths and other insects.Aug 17, 2021

Life Cycle of the Pantry Moth

The average is 4-7 weeks. Usually, the first noticed is the adult, which will only live 1 or 2 weeks without feeding.

The Indian meal moth larvae are often wrongly referred to as “maggots”. They are “caterpillars” not maggots. Indian meal moths are the most common insect pests in retail outlets and home pantries.

Bay Leaves: Bay leaves are great for using inside cupboards or pantry space. They help to combat unwanted weevils, ants, cockroaches, moths and flies. ... It may be used to keep rats, fleas, ants, and mice away. Mint can be used fresh or dried.Jun 27, 2016

Aerosol Usage

Phantom Aerosol, Microcare Aerosol or Alpine PT Aerosol may be used as a crack and crevice treatment in the corners, and cracks and crevices of the pantry and cupboards to kill the adult moths and prevent further infestations.

The main reason you suddenly get pantry moths in your sealed container is that its larvae could already infest some of the food you purchase. Make it a habit to check the food you buy. Inspect areas in the house that store food.

• Remove,Inspect,Discard. Inspect all food in your pantry for signs of infestation. Look for larvae in and on food packaging. ...
• Clean Everything. Give your pantry or cupboard a thorough cleaning. Pull out your shelf liners,and wash or replace them.
• Change Storage Methods. If you have space,store many grain or nut products permanently in the freezer or refrigerator rather than the pantry or cupboards.

• Pantry moths mainly cause contamination damage to infested foods. They leave various by-products in the food containers, including cocoons, webbing, excrement, dead bodies and skins. As the pantry moths feed on the food materials and move around, they spin silken threads that cause food particles to stick together in webs.

• Once in the home, Indianmeal moths may be noticed as either a very small moth or small whitish "worms" crawling up the wall or across the ceiling. Adult moths are only about 3/8 inch long with a 1/2-inch wingspan and are brownish-gray, with a two-tone appearance to their wings.