Insect? Worm? - Ask Extension
What is this little worm and is it harmful?
We've had two of these little worms hanging from our kitchen cabinets on different occasions.
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Insect? Worm? #871986
Asked June 07, 2024, 12:25 AM EDT
What is this little worm and is it harmful?
We've had two of these little worms hanging from our kitchen cabinets on different occasions.
Attached are three photos for your review.
Can you please advise us what we should do about them and what are they.
Respectfully,
Ed Snow
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Ed,
Those are caterpillars, and based on what I could see in your photos and your description, I am fairly certain they are one of three pests of stored foods, the Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella), the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella), or the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella). Caterpillars of these species feed on cereals, nuts, dried fruits, pet food and/or treats, bird seed (both wild and domestic) and other products.
Here are control measures for these types of pantry pests from the PNW Insect Management Handbook...
Management
Thoroughly clean shelves and storage bins. Inspect all food containers and discard those found to be infested. Store food only in containers that can be closed tightly. Do not store food items in thin plastic bags such as supermarket produce bags. Do not store food longer than 2 months unless frozen. If pet birds are present in the home make sure to clean cage often and store feed outside the home or in a sealed container.
Hope that helps!
Those are caterpillars, and based on what I could see in your photos and your description, I am fairly certain they are one of three pests of stored foods, the Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella), the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella), or the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella). Caterpillars of these species feed on cereals, nuts, dried fruits, pet food and/or treats, bird seed (both wild and domestic) and other products.
Here are control measures for these types of pantry pests from the PNW Insect Management Handbook...
Management
Thoroughly clean shelves and storage bins. Inspect all food containers and discard those found to be infested. Store food only in containers that can be closed tightly. Do not store food items in thin plastic bags such as supermarket produce bags. Do not store food longer than 2 months unless frozen. If pet birds are present in the home make sure to clean cage often and store feed outside the home or in a sealed container.
Hope that helps!
