Indian Meal Moth
The Indian Meal Moth feeds on various foods found in pantries. The caterpillar stage is a cream color, with yellow or pinkish shades and a dark brown head. The adult moth is about 3/8 of an inch long, and the body color is usually dirty gray with the top half of the wing a rusty brown or nearly bronze color. The adult moth can become irritable as they fly through the home. During the caterpillar stage, this pest can seriously damage vulnerable food items that are loosely sealed or in thin wrapping. It is highly fond of grains, cereals, dried fruit, herbs, or nuts. Items such as these are usually stored for long periods of time as they tend to have longer expiration dates. However, careful examination of these items every few months is very important to prevent the Indian Meal Moth from entering and damaging these food items. The caterpillar is capable of chewing through plastic bags and thin cardboard, therefore, storing these foods in sealed hard plastic or metal containers will prevent infestations.
Infested material should be discarded immediately, or somehow treated to disinfest. Treatments involve using heat or cold to kill any larvae and eggs that may be in the food. Since Indian Meal Moths can also cultivate on spilled food, thoroughly cleaning areas where food was stored will eliminate any sustenance for surviving insects. This can be done by vacuuming or sweeping up all spilled food. Another precaution includes storing foods in the refrigerator until the moths have died out to prevent re-infestation. If you perceive a bigger infestation around your home, don't hesitate to call Accurate Termite and Pest Control to have one of our professionals inspect and eliminate the infestation.
Call In A Professional For Help
If you currently have a pest problem or want to take proactive steps to help prevent one, we'd like to invite you to contact us. We have a team of experienced experts that would be more than happy to come to your home and help ensure that it is, and remains, pest-free. Please call us today at 1(844)GOT.ANTS.
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