Moths in groceries

Indian meal moth and Mediterranean flour moths are pests in groceries. Warehouse moth (Ephestia elutella) and Almond moth (Ephestia/Cadra caudella) have also been located in Finland, but very seldom they cause significant damage.

Indian meal moth (Ephestia kühniella) is however one of the worst pests in bakeries and mills. In households, their flying adults can also cause problems. They are very often considered as clothing moths.

Larvae of Indian meal moth is very common in mills and bakeries. There it is mostly located in wheat flours. They have never been found in grains. Larvae creates ropes, which looks like spider nest. It causes flour getting thick. That thickness includes a lot of their feces. Do you want to eat it? Adult moth do not eat anything. It just flies at night. During daytime, it just sits somewhere in dark and shadowy places with its wings closed. Moths cope winter conditions quite well. Shortly -15°C.

Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) makes dry products dirty with its dropping and feces.

It is also a real pest at dry fruit production facilities in sunbelt countries. It came to Finland together with imported products (e.g., dried fruits, almonds, nuts and sweets). Also their larvae creates ropes, which looks like spider nest. They spread very easily. Indian meal moth cannot cope Finnish winter in cold storages.