Indian Meal Moths
(Plodia interpuctella)
The indianmeal moth was given its name after an insect scientist found it feeding on corn meal, also known as Indian meal. From wing tip to wing tip, adult moths measure from five-eighths of an inch to three-fourths of an inch long.
Habitat:
Attracted to the light, these bugs are found worldwide in areas where food is stored, such as grocery stores.
Habits:
These moths like to feed on dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dog food, powdered milk, dried red peppers and candy.
Control / Prevention:
Dried food products should be inspected thoroughly for signs of moth infestations. Discard infested foods in outdoor trash bins. Clean infested cupboards thoroughly with a vacuum and soap and water. Store food in sealed containers.
Threats:
Indian Meal Moths infest foods and can contaminate food products.
Merchant Grain Beetles
(Anobiid and Lyctus species)
Merchant grain beetles are typically not found in grain products, but instead like to attack cereals, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies and chocolate. Merchant grain beetles are dark brown and have six saw-like teeth on each side of their bodies. They can grow to be one-eighth of an inch long and have very flat bodies.
Habitat:
Merchant grain beetles are found in pantries or in food processing areas or warehouses.
Habits:
The merchant grain beetle's body shape allows it to crawl into packaging to eat, live and have babies.
Control / Prevention:
Discard infested packages. Clean spilled grain and food sources.
Threats:
Merchant grain beetles can infest stored food products and can contaminate food.
Cereal and Pantry Pests
A variety of different insects attack cereals, flour, herbs, spices, chocolate, dried fruits and similar items in our homes. A few of these insects may be present but go unnoticed. The pests are usually not noticed in the home until they become abundant.
Insects found in flour and cereal are often referred to as weevils; however, the most common insect pantry pest in Pennsylvania is the Indian meal moth. It prefers such foods as chocolate, dried fruits, bird feed, and dry dog food. A common flour, pasta and cereal pest is the saw-toothed grain beetle. Various other species of beetles are also common pantry pests and infest a wide variety of food items. Cigarette beetles and drugstore beetles are occasional pests, but they prefer dried plant materials such as herbs and spices.
How do these pests get into our food? Occasionally, some may find their way inside from outdoors; however, the majority of these pests are in food products brought into the home. The initial infestation can originate at the processing plant, the warehouse, the delivery vehicle, or the retail store (chances of becoming infested increase the longer a food item is stored at the same location).
Beetles and moths have four stages in their development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. All stages may be present in the food, but the eggs are so tiny they are seldom seen. The larval stage is most destructive, but the adult stage is most often seen.
The following thumbnail images are some of the more commonly encountered pantry pests (both common & scientific names), average size (length) of adults, and some of the foods they may be infesting. Click on images for full-size view.
Cigarette beetle
Lasioderma serricorne (2-3 mm) Food: Rice, ginger, raisins, pepper, dates, seeds, spices, dried flowers and other dried botanicals
Drugstore beetle
Stegobium paniceum (2.5 mm) Food: Dry pet foods, flour, meal, cereals, spices, pepper
Confused flour beetle
Tribolium confusum (4.5-5 mm) Food: Flour, cereals, meal
Red flour beetle
Tribolium castaneum (4.5 - 5 mm) Food: Flour, cereals, meal
Sawtoothed grain beetle
Oryzaephilus surinamensis (2.5 mm) Food: Cereals, pasta, flour, meal, nuts, cracked seeds, seed dust
Merchant grain beetle
Oryzaephilus mercator (2.5 mm) Food: Cereals, pasta, flour, meal, nuts, cracked seeds, seed dust
Rice weevil
Sitophilus oryzae
(2.1 - 2.8 mm) Food: Whole grains, rice, corn, millet, rye, beans, bird seed, and caked meal
Maize weevil
Sitophilus zeamais
(3.2 - 3.5 mm) Food: Whole grains, rice, corn, millet, rye, beans, bird seed, and caked meal
Granary weevil
Sitophilus granarius
(3.1 - 4 mm) Food: Whole grains, rice, corn, millet, rye, beans, bird seed, and caked meal
Indian meal moth
Plodia interpunctella
(9mm) Food: Grain and grain products, dried fruits, seeds, crackers, nuts, powdered milk, candies, dried red peppers, dry pet food, meal, cracked corn