Indian Meal Moths

What are Indian meal moths?

Indian meal moths are pantry or stored product pests. They are common pests found in commercial facilities throughout Kansas and Missouri. Adult Indian meal moths grow to about 5/8th of an inch in length from wing tip to wing tip. Indian meal moths have distinct-looking wings. Their wings have a dark band that separates the front of the wing from the back of the wing. The front portion of the wing is yellowish-gray in color, while the back half of the wing is bronze, copper, or dark gray in color.

Their worm-like larvae, the stage of development which feeds on and causes damages to food items, grows to be about ½ an inch in length. Indian meal moths come in a variety of colors, including off-white, brown, greenish, or pinkish. Their head and thorax tend to be a more yellowish-brown color.

Are Indian meal moths dangerous?

Indian meal moths are not dangerous pests, but they are invasive pests that contaminate food. Indian meal moths begin their life cycle as eggs. Females lay their eggs directly on or inside packaged food. Once the larvae hatch, they begin to feed on the food it was laid in, contaminating it. Inside a commercial facility an Indian meal moth infestation can spread quickly. At the first signs of these stored product pests inside your facility, professional help should be sought to eliminate them as quickly as possible.

Why do I have an Indian meal moth problem?

Indian meal moths are attracted to light, and often find their way into buildings through spaces around windows and doors, open screens, and other small openings in a building's exterior. The most common way Indian meal moths enter homes is through stored pantry products that are brought into your facility and are already infested with their eggs or larvae. Indian meal moths can be introduced inside through deliveries, packages, or food brought in by customers or employees.

Where will I find Indian meal moths?

Indian meal moths live worldwide wherever there is food storage. Indian meal moths can become a concern inside food storage facilities, restaurants, and grocery stores, as well as other commercial facilities. Indian meal moth larvae feed on a variety of dry goods, including dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dry pet food, powdered milk, and spices.

How do I get rid of Indian meal moths?

The best way to eliminate Indian meal moths from your Kansas business is to partner with a pest control professional. At Pinnacle Solutions, we specialize in providing customer-focused, commercial pest control services to protect a wide variety of facilities and industries from Indian meal moths. To learn more about the Indian meal moth control services we offer, contact us! 

Our team of experienced professionals utilizes advanced treatments and eco-friendly products to accurately identify the pantry pest species you're dealing with, and provide consistent treatment to solve your property’s pantry pest problem for good. Learn more about our commercial pest control services and how they can help protect your Wichita-area commercial property from Indian meal moth invasions and the problems they cause. Reach out to us at Pinnacle Solutions for more information!

How can I prevent drain flies in the future?

Preventing problems with Indian meal moths can be a difficult task. There are several things you can do in and around your commercial facility to keep them from damaging your business and its reputation:

• Caulk any spaces that are found around your facility's windows and doors.
• Replace white outdoor lighting with yellow light bulbs that are less attractive to insects.
• Inspect deliveries and dry goods for signs of Indian meal moths before they are brought into your business.
• Regularly clean kitchen and food storage areas, rotate stock, and get rid of expired food items.
• Immediately discard any food infested with Indian meal moth eggs or larvae.