Knowledgebase
Pantry Moths #860819
Asked March 07, 2024, 3:56 PM EST
Bought a house in Littleton in December 2023 and discovered it had pantry moths which were not seen on closing inspection. These were discovered BEFORE we moved any of our belongings into the house. I’ve done everything advised to get rid of them: completely redoing the pantry (cleaning, ripping up old adhesive shelving, sealing/repairing any points of entry), pantry moth traps and a professional extermination service. I’m very aware they can come in from food items so I try to put Indian Rice , flour, grains etc in the freezer for a while just in case it contains any larvae. I do have a dog (very old) but he eats only wet dog food so there is no big open bag of dog kibble in the house. For a while the house was pantry moth-free BUT now they are back!! I kill them when I see them and I have the traps out again. Upon inspection of pantry items I see none of the tell tale signs of an infestation other than the occasional moth. I’m wondering if they are entering my house from outside. Is that possible? There doesn’t seem to be any other explanation. I’m at wits end! Any theories and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Veronica,
It's possible they're still entering from outside, although probably not this time of year. Ensure that you've sealed up cracks along doorways/vents/windows.
It's also possible that this latest round of moths are not indian meal moths but a different pest moth. There are moths that feed on textiles, and certain species that feed on acorns that get stockpiled inside the walls of homes by squirrels. Could you attach a picture of one of these moths so we can be sure of who we're dealing with first?
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 7, 2024, at 9:55 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:Thanks,
Here’s a photo of the culprit. Sorry, for my delayed response but it took me a while to trap an intact live bug. I have it in an upside down glass and it’s difficult to get a great photo. He does have antennae but I think they’re drooping beneath his body. Anyway, I typically see only one at a time and I haven’t detected any infiltration into my pantry contents….BUT I suspect it’s only a matter of time. I’m using those teepee-like sticky traps and my pest control company put some insecticide disk in the pantry which supposedly disturbs the exoskeleton of the moth’s body. Not sure if it’s working or not♀️. So, if you could identify this moth and let me know what I’m dealing with it would be greatly appreciated. Kinda frustrating that no matter what I do they keep popping up. I’ve never had such an issue in the past…so, not sure what’s going on.
Hi Veronica,
Yep, those are definitely pantry moths (aka Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella).
Besides the control measures we already discussed, try to store any dried goods in airtight, high quality plastic materials. The moth larvae can chew through flimsy plastic.
I also advise that you expand your search beyond your pantries. In heavy infestations, I have seen miller moth pupae behind picture frames, around couches, etc. It could also help to place traps beyond the pantry area too. I think the reason that you continue to see moths is that there was a heavy infestation, several larvae ventured beyond the pantry to pupate, you dealt with the majority which were in the pantry, and now the ones which pupated elsewhere are being drawn to the pantry.
Let me know if the problem persists and we can reassess.
