Class: Insects
Size: 4 to 10 mm
Weight: Variable
Age: 7 weeks
Appearance: Wings: light grey to grey-yellow, body: dome-red in colour
Feeding: Food in households
Distribution: Worldwide
Original location: Unknown
Habitat: Food substrate (stores), open air (birds’ nests)
Natural enemies: Unknown
Threatened with extinction: No

• The Indian meal moth, also known as the house moth or storage moth, is a butterfly of the family Pyralidae. This species is a widespread storage pest.
• Caterpillars of various colours hatch from up to 300 eggs (diameter <0.5 mm) after 3 to 4 days. During development, they shed their skin 3 to 5 times and can reach a length of up to 17 mm. The larva likes to sit in webs and pupates after some time in a hiding place outside the food store. Under optimal conditions, it takes 32 to 38 days for moths to develop.
• Indian meal moths can reproduce over several generations a year under good conditions, but are very sensitive to cold. Moths have a lifespan of up to two weeks.
• The caterpillars of the Indian meal moth eat, spin and contaminate cereal products, malt, nuts, beans, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, pasta, tea, spices, dried fruit. In special cases, they can also contaminate fresh fruit.
• Indian meal moths can not only bite through cardboard and paper, but also plastics. Particularly affected are the packaging of products that Indian meal moths like: cereals, grain products, pasta, rice, nuts, dried fruits, tea, spices, chocolate, chocolates, pet food.
• Globally, Indian meal moths are possibly the most important pests in the food industry. In addition to mass losses due to larval feeding, a moth infestation can also lead to contamination by webs, larval skins, dead moths and clumps of food substrates, faeces, larvae and empty cocoons. Therefore, the infected product is no longer suitable for processing or consumption. Secondary infestations of mould and mites may also occur as a result.