Finding pests anywhere in your home can be upsetting and disturbing, but finding them in your food is often the most disgusting of all. There are few things more stressful than going to your pantry and pulling out some food to eat only to find an infestation of moths or their larvae.
The Indian meal moth, also known as the pantry moth, is one of the most common pantry pests in Rock Island, and they are known for eating stored food products like grains, spices, and dried fruit inside homes they infest. The larvae of this species eat these products in order to grow and turn into moths, and while the adults of the species don’t eat human food, they can keep the infestation going by laying more eggs inside it.
What Do Pantry Moths Look Like?
At the larval stage, Indian meal moths are about half an inch long and look like long, white worms with ribbed bodies. Their heads are a reddish-brown color. Once these moths reach maturity, they are also about half an inch long and have reddish-brown bodies. Their wings are mostly red-brown with cream coloration near their heads and black bands across the end of the wing.
How Does An Infestation Begin?
There are three main ways that pantry moths can get inside your home and from there into your cupboards and pantries. The first way is when the adult moths enter a building through doors, windows, or cracks around the exterior of your house. Once inside, they will try to lay their eggs in food products where the infestation can grow. These moths can also occasionally get inside if you bring in wreaths, flowers, or other plants that already contain these pests.
The third and most common way an infestation of Indian meal moths starts is when you buy products that are already infested. While it’s rather disgusting to think about, pantry moth eggs and larvae often already live in items such as flour, baking mixes, sugar, and other packaged foods that you buy directly from the grocery store.
How Can You Prevent Pantry Moths?
To keep pantry moths from infesting your home and contaminating your food, there are a few effective prevention tips you should follow. These tips include sealing up access points to keep adult moths outside as well as how to inspect food items for moths before purchase. Here are a few specific steps you can take:
Always check food packaging, especially of grain-based products, for signs of an infestation which include small webs and an almost powdery appearance inside of the packaging. Store food items including grains and mixes in airtight containers. This will help stop the spread of an infestation that already exists and also keep adult moths from laying eggs in the future.
Keep adult moths out of your home by fixing broken screens and sealing up any cracks or holes in the walls. Always keep prepackaged food items fresh by rotating them regularly.
If you have had an Indian meal moth infestation, deep clean cupboards, and pantries using soap and water.
The Most Effective Way To Remove Pantry Moths
If you’ve noticed Indian meal moths at any stage of their development, the best way to remove them entirely is through the residential pest control services at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. We will work with you to eliminate the current infestation as well as provide ongoing services to ensure these moths don’t return in the future.
If you’d like to learn more about our pest control options and service plans, reach out to us online or at (888) 672-0022. With nearly 100 years of experience, we are here for you.