Have you ever noticed small moving critters while measuring flour for baking or while pouring your breakfast cereal? Your home might be infested by pantry moths, without you even knowing it.
We’ll show you how to get rid of pantry moths forever.
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We all want to have a pristine and spotless kitchen. It doesn’t always happen though. Cleaning up might be a mundane task but if some of the detail is overlooked, you may find yourself with pantry moths, aka pantry weevils.
Pantry moths are regarded as common house pests all over the world. They are a global annoyance. In order to successfully fight your enemy, you must first get to know them and then strategise from there.
If you suspect that there are uninvited inhabitants in your kitchen, read on and we will show you how to get rid of pantry moths stat.
What are pantry moths?
Pantry moths, or Indian Meal Moths, are minute creatures measuring around 12.7mm as an adult. They inhabit dry food items like cereal and grains, flour, pasta, dried fruits, dried herbs, powdered milk, and nuts.
The name ‘Indian Meal Moth’ might mislead others into thinking that these bugs originated or are widespread in India. In reality, this species was named after the observation of it mainly feeding on cornmeal, also called Indian-meal.
Where do pantry moths come from?
There are many paths for the pantry moth to invade your home. They can enter through openings such as doors, windows, vents, or even cables and plumbing lines that pass through the walls of your house.
They can also enter your kitchen through your recent grocery purchases. Pantry moths mostly target dry products such as grains and flour. Often these packets become contaminated during transportation to supermarkets and while sitting on the shelves. These items, such as flour or breadcrumbs, are not often used during meal preparation and are left sitting undisturbed for months, providing a great habitat for the pantry moth larvae to hatch.
Because of this, pantry moths could go unnoticed and might only catch your attention when you see an adult moth lurking around your kitchen, or a small silky cocoon in the corners of your pantry.
Are pantry moths harmful?
These moths are generally considered harmless and are not identified as carriers of any disease. But as small as they are, they are a big nuisance as they can easily destroy all the contents of your cupboard in a matter of days and leave them contaminated and unsuitable for consumption.
How long do pantry moths live?
The pantry moth life cycle is completed from 27 to 305 days, beginning when a single female lays its eggs. The speed of development varies and depends on the environment the moths are in. Indian Meal Moth larvae thrive on dark and humid environments, contributing to their rapid development.
The life cycle of a pantry moth is made up of these stages:
Stage 1: Egg
Female pantry moths can lay up to 400 eggs at once directly on its food source. A cluster of eggs can go undetected due to its very small size (0.03–0.05 mm) and whitish-grey colour. After being laid, it takes 7 days for pantry moth eggs to hatch.
Stage 2: Larva
Stage 3: Pupa
Pantry moths move away from their food source in preparation for this stage. Pupation lasts from 15-20 days in hidden crevices, cracks, and spots within pantry shelves which makes it hard to find the main location of the infestation.
Stage 4: Adult
Reddish-brown adult pantry moths are attracted to lights and fly around in search of a potential mate. Adults do not eat since their mouthparts are not functional and their only goal is to reproduce and lay more eggs.
Since the previous stages of development are very discreet and well-concealed, homeowners usually only notice the presence of these bugs during this stage.
What are the tell-tale signs of infestation?
If you are on the lookout for pantry moths in your kitchen, you should check for clumps inside the packaging of grains, starches and flours. You would also notice webbing on the outside and inside of food packages, especially on its edges or corners if moths are around. Pantry moths also leave an unpleasant odour due to the secretions that they emit. If you have noticed at least one of these signs, it’s time for you to take your quest to defeat these pests more seriously.
How to get rid of pantry moths naturally
Getting rid of pantry moths is not an easy task, it is laborious, but you need to do it – fast. The following are methods which could help you fight pantry moths and reclaim your territory.
Eliminate the main source of infestation.
First things first, you need to identify the source of the pantry moths. Empty your pantry, and go through every single package and container you have in there. Any item you find contaminated, bag it up and throw it out. Wash your containers in a sink of hot soapy water – have the sink ready to go and once the contents are in the bin, put your container in the hot water for a thorough wash.
Clean your kitchen thoroughly.
This applies to all cupboards, drawers, and other spots where you store food, as these are the places the moths will want to pupate. Remove all shelf and drawer liners and wash all storage jars, containers, shelving and surrounding walls with an easy home remedy of water and vinegar cleaning mixture, to ensure that unhatched eggs are killed and adult moths are repelled.
Terrific home remedies for pantry moth defense are essential oils. Add a few drops of essential oil such as peppermint, citronella, tea tree or eucalyptus. Online shops such as In Essence carry pure, high grade essential oils which will work best.
To capture the last of the moths you may have missed, use a pantry moth trap, also called a pheromone trap that emits a smell that lures and keeps them stuck in place. You can pick these up in supermarkets and hardware stores.
Once you have thoroughly cleaned out your pantry you need to restock your food.
Store dried foods properly. Use plastic storage such as plastic containers with strong seals, or glass jars to seal your dried items. Once purchased, tip the packets into your storage. Opened packets need to be sealed so stick them in jars and containers too.
1. Check packages before purchase
When you are shopping, just take a moment to check that packaging hasn’t been nibbled at, and that no little webs are around. Clear bags are easy to check if you give them a jiggle. You will soon see creepy-crawlies if they are there.
2. Freeze dry goods before storing.
Freezing dry items will not only kill pantry moths but also other pests or insects that might be hidden in your new purchases. To do this, wrap these items in a sturdy plastic bag and put them in the freezer for 2-3 days prior to storing them.
3. Use Bay leaves as natural repellents
Due to its pungent smell, bay leaves prove to be effective in deterring pantry moths. Simply put fresh or dried bay leaves in strategic places within the pantry that might be prone to infestation. You can also hang a bouquet in the pantry as the scent will spread around.
Clearing your house of a Pantry moth infestation is a laborious and time consuming job. So much so that you will be motivated to keep on top of keeping things clean and restocking staple items with fresh supplies.
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