Indian Meal Moth
Plodia interpunctella  
                        
SIZE: 5/8 – 3/4 inch (16-20mm)

COLOR: Wings are pale gray to tan on the front third and reddish-brown to copper luster on the back two-thirds.
    

DESCRIPTION: The Indian Meal Moth was given its name by an early American entomologist who found it feeding on cornmeal (Indian meal).  It is the most commonly encountered pest of stored products in Toronto and the GTA.

HABITAT: Adult Indian Meal Moths live only one or two weeks and are chiefly night fliers.  During the day they prefer to rest in poorly lighted areas.  If disturbed they fly in an irregular zigzag pattern.  Larvae are about 1/2 inch (16mm) long, dirty white in colour with a yellowish brown to reddish brown head.  Usually found on or near the infested grain or grain products (see Type of Damage below).

LIFE CYCLE: The adult female lays 100-400 eggs, singly or in small groups, on or near the larval food source during a period of 1-18 days.  Upon hatching, the larva establishes itself in a crevice of the food material.  It feeds in or near a tunnel-like case it has webbed together of silk.  The larval period lasts 13-288 days depending on temperature and food availability.  When ready to pupate it leaves the food source and pupates into the adult moth pictured above.  There are usually 4-6 generations per year, with the life cycle typically requiring 25-305 days.

TYPE OF DAMAGE: Adult Indian Meal Moths cause no damage.  The larvae are surface feeders and generally attack grain and grain products.  They may feed on dried fruits, seeds, nuts, graham crackers, powered milk, biscuits, chocolate, dry pet food, and bird seed. They prefer courser grades of flour such as whole wheat, graham flour and cornmeal.

CONTROL:  Control of this pest will require disposal of all potential food sources and an insecticide application.  All kitchen cupboards will need to be emptied prior to service.  This treatment will require all occupants and pets to vacate the residence for a minimum of 4 hours, ask your service technician for complete details.

Mediterranean Flour Moth
Anagasta kuehniella                          
SIZE: adult wingspan 1 inch (24mm)
COLOR: Front wings are pale gray, each with black zigzag transverse lines.  Hind wings are dirty white, not visible while at rest.

DESCRIPTION: The Mediterranean Flour Moth is a common pest in bakeries and flour mills, but occasionally will infest homes as well.

HABITAT: Adult Mediterranean Flour Moths live only one or two weeks and are chiefly night fliers.  With a distinctive resting pose in which the front of the body is raised giving the wings a downward slope, if disturbed they fly in an irregular zigzag pattern.  Larvae are about 5/8 inch (15mm) long, white to pink in colour with a dark reddish brown head and small black spots on each body segment from which body hairs arise. Usually found on or near the infested flour or flour products (see Type of Damage below).

LIFE CYCLE: The adult female lays 116-678 eggs, on or near the larval food source, eggs will hatch in a period of 3-5 days.  Upon hatching, the larva establishes itself in a crevice of the food material.  It feeds in or near a tunnel-like case it has webbed together of silk.  The larval period lasts 40 days depending on temperature and food availability.  When ready to pupate it leaves the food source and pupates into the adult moth pictured above.  There are usually 4-6 generations per year, with the life cycle typically requiring 28-70 days.

TYPE OF DAMAGE: Adult Mediterranean Flour Moth causes no damage.  The larvae cause most of the problems because as they crawl around they spin silken treads which mat food particles together.  These silken mats clog flour mill machinery and bakery equipment.  Larvae may feed on flour, bran, beans, dried fruits, seeds, nuts, biscuits, chocolate, dry pet food, and bird seed.

CONTROL:  Control of this pest will require disposal of all potential food sources and an insecticide application.  All kitchen cupboards will need to be emptied prior to service.  This treatment will require all occupants and pets to vacate the residence for a minimum of 4 hours, ask your service technician for complete details.