Indianmeal moth

Classification

Secondary pest; Grain feeder
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Acronym: PIN

Description

• Adults have a wingspan of 14 to 20 mm and the body is 6 to 7 mm in length.
• Forewings are bicoloured with the base (part closest to body) cream to yellow and the outer portion coppery red to dark grey.
• Larvae are whitish though may have a greenish or pinkish tint depending on the larval food source.
• Larvae may be distinguished from Ephestia larvae by the lack of dark spots at the base of the setae (hairs).
• Larvae reach a length of 8 to 10 mm.

Similar species

• Almond moth (Cadra cautella)
• Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella)

Commodities affected

• Cereal products, oilseeds, cocoa, chocolate, spices, nuts, dried fruit, dried roots, herbs, tobacco, some pulses, dead insects
• Processed, packaged, manufactured foods, confectionary products

Signs of infestation

• Webbing of food surface
• Presence of frass (excrement), cast skins, pupal cases and dead adult moths

Damage

• Damage is caused only by larvae and is not distinctive.
• Only broken kernels of grain and grain dust are attacked as larvae cannot penetrate undamaged grain.
• Infested foodstuff is covered with silky webbing and frass from larvae.
• Webbing may clog machinery.

How to control

• Control grain insect pests

Geographic range

• Is found worldwide
• Is found coast to coast in Canada

Where found

• Is found in granaries, stores, elevators, warehouses
• May be encountered in manufacturing, distribution, retail and domestic environments

Life history

• Females lay eggs directly on the commodity, eggs are sticky.
• Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon on the surface of the food or nearby.
• Larvae can overwinter in unheated buildings.
• Life cycle will continue year round in heated buildings.
• The Indianmeal moth can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years to reach maturity.

Video

• Video of Indianmeal moth