Indian meal moth - Maheu&Maheu

Indian meal moth Moths

Elimination

If you notice that you have insects in your cupboards, you must first find the areas of infestation and then destroy the contaminated food. It is wise to throw away infested and suspected food outside the house, after putting it in a waterproof plastic bag.

Afterwards, we must empty the cabinets and try to find the cocoons in order to remove them, then vacuum the pantry and under the appliances, either emptying or disposing of the recovery container.

It is recommended to place all food in airtight containers to avoid reinfestation.

Pheromone traps can also be used to create interference in reproduction.

Actions

Put all food in sealed containers
Vacuum pantries and under appliances (empty receptacle/dispose of bag)
Set out pheromone glue traps

Prevention

Always store food in sealed containers
Examine pet food before putting it away

Description and development

Indian and Mediterranean meal moths are small winged insects. The tips of the Indian meal moth’s forewings are a coppery reddish-brown, whereas the Mediterranean meal moth’s are silvery gray with black horizontal stripes. The life cycle is completed in six to ten weeks, depending on the species. Each female can lay 100 to 350 eggs. These will be laid near dry foodstuffs.

Habits

The larvae are a whitish beige color and feed on flour, grain, dried fruits, nuts, cocoa, chocolate, dried meats, and pasta. They are also often found in dry pet food and dried flowers.

Tips

Once the problem is solved, it’s a good idea to caulk any cracks in the cupboards with an appropriate sealant.

We also recommend that you buy only small quantities of susceptible foods, especially in the summer, and store them in airtight containers as soon as you bring them home from the grocery store. This will limit the damage in the event of a future infestation.

For more information on Meal Moth, please read issue 25 of our technical newsletter The Gatekeeper.

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