what is a pantry moth

A pantry moth is a small flying insect that infests or contaminates stored pantry goods like grain, cereal, flour, and other dry food. They are also known as grain moths or Indianmeal moths because they commonly infest powdered Indian corn or cornmeal in America. Pantry moths are attracted to food sources, which they eat and lay eggs in. Small worms or larvae emerge and feed on these food sources after they hatch from the eggs, making the food inedible. Pantry moths can cause a nuisance in your home and can be difficult to get rid of once they infest the food in your pantry. They are grayish-brown moths with copper or reddish markings on their outer wings and their bodies are ½ inch or 12.7 millimeters long and oval-shaped. The larvae feed on the food surface, spin silky webs, which clump seeds or grains together, and leave droppings, shed skin, and eggshells on stored food, contaminating it. Pantry moths lay their eggs on stored food and grains, and finding an adult moth may be a sign that there are infested items somewhere in the home.