When a pest invades your home, it’s important to know what you’re up against. Pantry moths infest stored food items in homes, warehouses, and grocery stores. When they end up in your pantry, they can contaminate your food. We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about pantry moths.
What Do Pantry Moths Look Like?
Adult pantry moths have a brown body. Their wings are gray and brown. These pests grow to about 3/8ʺ. Their larvae are worm-like. They have a cream body and a dark head. Larvae are about 1/2ʺ in length.
What Does A Pantry Moth Egg Look Like?
Pantry moth eggs are tiny, making them difficult to see. They are grayish-white and round. Adult moths can lay hundreds of eggs at a time. Eggs can hatch within a week. Larvae will then emerge.
What Do Pantry Moths Eat?
Adult pantry moths don’t actually eat, but that doesn’t mean your food is safe. Their larvae feed on a variety of pantry items. They prefer grains, flour, nuts, cereal, dried fruit, spices, and even your pet’s food.
How Did Pantry Moths Get Into My Home?
Pantry moths are often brought into homes with groceries. From there, they breed and multiply in your cabinets. Sometimes, pantry moths can accidentally end up in homes by slipping through cracks and holes.
How Do Pantry Moths Get in Sealed Bags?
Pantry moth larvae can chew through sealed plastic bags and thin cardboard. Storing your pantry items in sealed glass containers can help prevent an infestation.
Are Pantry Moths Attracted to Light?
Yes, pantry moths are attracted to light. These pests are nocturnal and use the moon as a guide when flying. Artificial lights can attract them.
Are Pantry Moths Dangerous?
Pantry moths won’t sting or bite you. However, adult pantry moths lay eggs in stored food items. The larvae feed on and live in these items. This contaminates the food making it inedible.
What If I Can’t See Pantry Moths?
Spotting adult pantry moths isn’t the only way to determine if you have an infestation. You may notice webbing or find holes in your food packages. You’ll also want to check for larvae. They are small, so you may need a magnifying glass to see them. You can also place your items in a clear bag. This will make it easier to examine them for pests.
How Do You Use Maggie’s Farm Home Bug Spray to Get Rid of Moths?
Our Home Bug Spray can act as a spot treatment for pantry moths. It will kill moths when they are sprayed. Not only does it kill on contact, it also provides you with residual repellency. The protective barrier it forms makes it an effective preventative measure. Spray common entry points to help deter moths from entering your home.
How Do You Get Rid of Pantry Moths?
The first step to getting rid of pantry moths is examining your food and removing infested items. You’ll then want to clean your pantry and any areas where you have seen these moths. Using a trap labeled for pantry moths is effective for controlling these pests. Our Pantry Moth Trap will attract and kill adult pantry moths and their larvae. Just place the trap in areas where you have seen pantry moths.
Gathering information about pests can make it easier to eliminate an infestation. If pantry moths or other pests are giving you a fit, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.