Pyralidae
- Insect with chitinous carapace
- Flying, crawling
- Stock/Storage pest, health pest
Species
- Pantry moth (Plodia interpunctella)
- Mill moth (Ephestia kuehniella)
- Meal moth (Pyralis farinalis)
- Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella)
- Cork moth (Nemapogon cloacella)
The pyralid moth and its larvae contaminate all food supplies within a very short time and attract mites and moulds that can be harmful to human health. Packaging made of paper or cardboard is no obstacle for the moths.
Pyralid moths are dangerous for humans and for pets because they spoil food and certain forms of animal food (dry food) through their droppings and through webs - the remains of the larva's cocoon.
More data
Class: Insects
Size: 10 to 14mm
Weight: Variable
Age: Variable
Appearance: Bronze to silver
Food: Carbohydrates
Distribution: Worldwide
Threatened with extinction: No
- Food moths or kitchen moths are different species from the family of the moths (Pyralidae), which are considered to be storage pests.
- Pyralid Moths either fly into the house through open windows or are brought in with food when shopping. The moths are not choosy, their food sources are cereals, rice, corn, oatmeal, flour products, bakery products, pasta, cereals, chocolate, nuts (especially ground), beans, spices and biscuits, etc..
- Packaging made of paper or cardboard is no obstacle and is easily penetrated by the moths. Therefore, sealed jars or plastic boxes are highly recommended as storage containers.
- The names of many moths are misleading: dried fruit and flour moths are unfortunately not limited to dried fruit and flour, but also to other foodstuffs, which become contaminated with eggs, net-like webs or larvae. The larvae are recognisable as yellowish, one centimetre long thread-like maggots with a black spot on their head. They contaminate food with faeces that may contain fungi and mites. The cocoon of the moth looks like an envelope made of thin and transparent paper.
In which area does the pest occur?
The area of application determines which products are recommended to control this pest.
Oben
