Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Biology: The Indian meal moth has developed into the most frequently occurring moth in industry, commercial trade and human habitations. The adults have a wingspan of 20 mm. The part of the forewing next to the body is yellow-grey, the wingtip red-brown to copper red. One females lays 200 to 400 eggs. The larvae grow to a length of 16 mm and vary in color depending on what they feed on between whitish, greenish and reddish.

Damage: Despite its name, the Indian meal moth eats all kinds of foodstuffs; the name “meal moth” reflects this. These animals are found, for instance, on dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, grain, spices, etc. The larvae eat the germ out of the grains; holes are eaten in foodstuffs. The foodstuffs are heavily contaminated by cocoon spinning and fecal crumbs.