Indian meal moth
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| iIndian meal moth | ||||||||||||||
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 Adult moths mating
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| Plodia interpunctella Hübner, 1813 |
The Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is a common grain-feeding pest found around the world. Annoying household pests, they are often found feeding on cereals and dry grain products.
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[edit] Identification
The outer 2/3 of the forewings are bronze or copper in color while the upper third are yellowish-gray, with a dark band at the interface between the two. The wingspan is 16-20 mm.
The larva is off-white with a brown head and about 12 mm long when mature.
They are commonly called "flour moths" or "pantry moths."
A similar species is the Almond moth.
[edit] Pest Control
After larvae or moths have been found, it is important to throw out all grains (cereal, bread, pasta, rice), spices (salt, etc.), dried fruits (raisins), and any other food source that is not in a very tightly sealed container. The moths are able to get into surprisingly tight spots, including sealed bags and Tupperware containers. They are also notoriously difficult to get rid of, so when in doubt, throw it out!
Some people place questionable items in the freezer or refrigerator during the cleanout phase.
Nontoxic traps are also available to cut down on the movement of adult moths. For example, one type of trap is a triangular box with a lure inside and sticky walls. Moths are attracted inside by the lure and then stuck inside the box. Moths often do not even need a lure, common glue traps work well to reduce the number of adults.
[edit] References
- William F. Lyon. Fact Sheet: Indianmeal Moth. Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
- Thomas R. Fasulo; Marie A. Knox. Featured Creatures: Indianmeal moth. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
