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Indian Meal Moths

What do Indian meal moths look like?

Adult Indian meal moths are winged insects that are distinctively patterned. The rear half of their wing is either bronze, dark gray, or copper, and the front half is yellow-gray with a dark band separating the two halves of the wing. Adults grow to be between 1/2 and 5/8th of an inch in length. Indian meal moth larvae are worm-like in appearance and have brown heads. Their bodies can be green or pink tinted.

indian meal moth

Are Indian meal moths dangerous?

Adult Indian meal moths do not harm people. They do, however, contaminate food products that are stored in your home. Adults lay their eggs in stored food products like flour, grains, bird seeds, cereals, dried fruits, pasta, dried pet food, and powdered milk. The eggs hatch, and the larvae feed and breed in it. Food that is contaminated by Indian meal moths will need to be discarded.

Why are Indian meal moths in my home?

Indian meal moths are most often found in homes after products that are already infested with their eggs or larvae are purchased from stores. It is important to make sure that the packaging of dry goods is completely intact before purchasing; boxes or bags that look crushed, squished, or torn should never be purchased. In some cases, adult Indian meal moths may fly into a home through open windows or doors where they will lay their eggs in open packages of dry goods.

How do you get rid of Indian meal moths?

If Indian meal moths have invaded your home, the best way to completely get rid of them is to contact a pest control professional. This is because finding all the areas of your kitchen and pantry that they are invading can be extremely difficult; and if any are left behind, a re-infestation will quickly happen. At Spencer Pest Services we can get rid of Indian meal moths from your home through our year-round residential pest control packages. Our pest control professionals have the experience and training needed to find and safely eliminate all of the Indian meal moths that have invaded your home. Contact us today for more information about our Indian meal moth control services.

Indian meal moth prevention tips

Along with putting in place a year-round pest control program there are several things you can do in and around your home to prevent problems with Indian meal moths. Prevention tips include:

  • Inspect the packaging of dry goods before purchasing them; make sure that the packaging is completely intact before purchasing.
  • Dry goods like flour, cereals, oats, grains, pet food, and bird seed should be removed from their original packaging and stored in plastic or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
  • Food being stored in kitchen and pantry areas should be regularly rotated, and older or expired items should be thrown out.

Helpful Indian Meal Moth Articles

Indian Mean Moths: The Ultimate Pantry Invader In Greenville