Your workweek is done, your beautiful Peoria home is clean, and it is finally time to relax. Time to grab a snack and kick up your feet for a few minutes of quiet before the rest of the family gets home. To your horror, as you are browsing through your pantry offerings, you notice that something has already beat you to the food you desire: the Indian meal moth. In fact, not only is the box of graham crackers you were going to choose inundated with these things, but they have also gotten into the dried fruit, nuts, cereal boxes, and even the dog food! Read on to learn how these pests got into your Peoria pantry, the best way to get rid of Indian meal moths, if there are any Indian meal moth health risks from having these insects in your home, and how getting pest control in Peoria from the experts at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators will help with any problems you have with these pesky moths.
What Do Pantry Moths In Peoria Look Like?
The Indian meal moth is distinguishable by its unique-looking wing pattern. The front half of the wing is a yellow-gray color, and the back half of the wing is bronze, copper, or dark gray; a dark band separates the two halves. Adults can be between ½ and 5/8 of an inch, while Indian meal moth larvae are about ½ of an inch long. Depending on their diet, their bodies can be brown, green, pink, or off-white; their heads and thoraxes are yellow-brown.
How Do Indian Meal Moths Get Into Peoria Homes?
Indian meal moths are mostly found in food processing and storage facilities. The adults infesting these facilities will lay their eggs in food sources, which are then transported to Peoria homes through these contaminated products that are purchased in stores. Indian meal moth eggs were not on your shopping list, so in order to avoid bringing them home with you, it is a good idea to:
- Thoroughly inspect all packaging on products you are purchasing for signs of being contaminated, such as holes or rips.
- Remove products from their original packaging and place them into glass or plastic containers once you get home from doing your shopping.
These moths may also get into your Peoria home through gaps found around windows and doors as they are searching for their next meal, so placing caulk in those areas will help keep them out. Additionally, they are attracted to light, so it’s a good idea to replace white, outdoor lights with yellow or sodium vapor lights, which are less attractive to most insects. These are just a few Indian meal moth control tips you can try on your own.
Are Indian Meal Moths Dangerous?
Hollywood hasn’t capitalized on the killer moth movie genre yet, but that’s because moths, in general, don’t strike fear into the average person. The danger that comes with an Indian meal moth infestation is the possibility of becoming sick from eating food contaminated by Indian meal moth larvae. The adults cause no real damage or harm, but it’s their eggs that do the damage. Indian meal moth eggs are laid in food so the developing larvae can feed on that food source. If this food source is then introduced into your home and an infestation occurs, the resulting damaged food supplies will have to be discarded and the infestation dealt with, costing you time and money.
What are some Indian meal moth health risks if you happen to ingest them? Luckily, they do not carry any diseases, parasites, or pathogens, so other than it being a disturbing thought that you may have consumed some of these, there is no reason to panic.
How To Get Rid Of Indian Meal Moths In Peoria Pantries
The best way to get rid of Indian meal moths from your Peoria home is to partner with a professional company that practices Indian meal moth control. Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators has been solving pest problems like these in the Peoria area since 1929. We are a second-generation, family-owned, locally-operated pest solution provider and the premier pest service in the area. You want these pests eliminated from your home and that is what we deliver. We can quickly and confidently implement the latest technological advancements in the pest elimination industry, assuring you and your family of a pest-free environment. Reach out to us today and let us eliminate the pesky moths once and for all.