The Indian Meal Moth is one of the most common stored product pests found in homes today. It develops as a pest of various foods commonly found in pantries. All stages of the Indian Meal moth may be found in homes. The adult is a small moth, about 3/8 inch long, with a wing span of about 5/8 inch. The overall body color is generally dirty gray but the tip half of the wing is rusty brown or nearly bronze. This wing marking pattern allows the Indian Meal moth to be easily distinguished from other household moths. The caterpillar stage (larvae state) is usually cream colored, sometimes with yellowish-green or pinkish shades, and has a dark brown head. Normally they stay associated with foods, the caterpillars are capable of chewing through plastic bags and thin cardboard. The full grown caterpillars, about 2/3 inch long, may be seen as they wander in search of a place to pupate. The caterpillars can seriously damage susceptible food items and the adult moths can become annoying as they fly through the home. If you are the Do It Yourself Pest Control person, you will need to use the professional way SOS (search out the source).

Indian Meal Moths develop in many kinds of stored foods. Coarsely ground grains and cereal products are commonly infested. Dried herbs, dried fruits, and nuts are also highly favored. Pet foods such as dried dog food, flaked fish food, and bird seed (Eric has a Green Cheek Conure, and has to battle them at times) can also become infested. Indian Meal moths may also breed in ornamental items made of dried flowers or seeds. The moths usually fly at dusk and through the night. Females lay tiny eggs (0.5 mm) on or near potential food items. The newly hatched caterpillars (larvae) seek out foods and begin to develop. As they feed they often produce silk that loosely binds to food fragments. In large, undisturbed containers feeding is concentrated on the surface as the larvae do little burrowing. However, caterpillars may occur throughout the product within small, loose packages typically found in household pantries. 

Do It Yourself Pest Control Key to Successful Indian Meal Moth Control (and other Stored Product Pests)

• The first and most critical step, is to identify all sources of infestation. and discard all infested products, which can be cereal, cornmeal, dried soups, dried fruits, bird seed, dog food, and dog biscuits as well as other treats.
• Removal of any crawling larvae as well as any cocoon that can be found in cracks, along where the ceiling and wall meet. Cocoons will be webbed over and glued to these areas.
• Crack and Crevice treatment with a product like Cy-Kick CS. Treating these areas will reduce larvae and some adult population.
• Crack and Crevice and surface treatment with Gentrol Aerosol, as this product helps break the life cycle. (contains Hydroprene IGR (Insect Growth Regulator)
• Using the Allure Moth Trap, CatchMaster Moth Traps, XLure-R.T.U Pheromone Trap. These products use a sex pheromone that attracts the male moths, these will reduce breeding populations and help in your control; not suggested to use as sole means of control, but can be used as a monitoring device.