Meal moths often arrive in homes in milled cereal products, dried fruit or flour. Find out how to protect your kitchen and your food from a meal moth infestation with the professional inspection, removal and prevention services of Truly Nolen Pest Control. Don’t let these pests ruin your food and compromise your pantry with silk, frass and other contaminants.
Look for a moth about five-eighths of an inch long with reddish-brown and grey wings that rest in a rooflike position over their body. Meal moth larvae tunnel into cereal grains, corn and other crops. They weave tunnels of silk that collect droppings, dead skin and other contaminants.
While these moths won’t bite, they still pose a nuisance. The spread of meal moth silk, while not posing a health risk, can damage your home and your food. It’s best to eliminate a meal moth infestation as soon as possible to avoid throwing out food.
Most infestations start with hitchhiking larvae entering your home in birdseed, pet food or dried food products. They then can crawl around your kitchen and spin silk around other dried foods in your pantry. Larvae of meal moths are light pink or white, so inspect your dried food for signs of these pests. Throw away any food infested by meal moth larvae to limit the spread.
Signs of adult moths in your home typically mean there are larvae still alive and feeding nearby. Check your pantry and dried food storage areas for signs of meal moth activity.
Unlike clothes moths, meal moths won’t eat fabric. They may fly into your bedroom or other room in your home, but adult meal moths don’t feed, and larvae only feed on cereal grains, pet food, spices and dried fruit.
Removing infested cereal grains and pet food is a good way to reduce the risk of an infestation spreading, but this isn’t a complete removal or prevention strategy. Larvae and eggs may still be hiding in your food storage area.
Schedule an inspection from Truly Nolen to start your professional removal strategy. Work with leaders in pest control services in your area to look for signs of meal moths, effectively remove them and prevent further moth larvae from damaging your dried food and your home. Turn to a local pest removal service to protect your home from meal moths and other household pests.