Behavior

The most commonly encountered pest found in stored food products is the Indianmeal moth, also known as the pantry moth and flour moth; it’s an Old World native that migrated to the United States, and was named by an entomologist who discovered it feeding on cornmeal. Indianmeal moths have the ability to get into surprisingly tight places. They are also notoriously difficult to get rid of. They attack a variety of grains and grain products, along with dried fruit, seeds, nuts, biscuits, chocolate, candy, dried peppers, pet food and birdseed; they favor rough-milled products such as cornmeal and whole wheat flour. The Indeanmeal moth’s larva will leave a telltale sign it’s been busy: a lot of silky webbing in the foodstuffs it’s been eating. And if you see small moths flying at night inside your house in a zigzag and random pattern, you’ve probably got Indianmeal moths.

Treatment

Inspect your kitchen foodstuffs, and transfer any products stored in paper, cardboard or plastic bags into tight-sealing jars or Tupperware-type containers; don’t forget your dog or cat food, or birdseed. Throw out any products that show evidence of moth activity. If you suspect Indianmeal moth activity, your Clark technician will know how to control them, with minimal impact on your environment and without putting your and your family’s safety at risk.

Latin name: Plodia interpunctella