How do i know what kind of moths i have. Or to pour some cereal out and. They are tiny about a 1 2 inch 13 cm in length and very good at hiding but you may also spot webbing in your pantry as well as holes in packages. Moth larvae or caterpillars make cocoons from which they emerge as fully grown moths with wings. Pantry moths are also known as indian meal moths.
Adult moths present an obvious sign of moth presence but do not do the damage themselves clearly they have the potential to start the infestation though with hundreds of eggs being laid at a time. Moths evolved long before butterflies with fossils having been found that may be 190 million years old. If you need to know what kind of fabric do moths eat pay attention. There are four types of pantry moth to look our for within your kitchen.
Some moth caterpillars dig holes in the ground where they live until they are ready to turn into adult moths. They feed on flour uncooked beans and rice cereal dog food and other dried foods. Clothes moths are often confused with indian meal moths but the two are actually very different primarily in the materials on which they feed and the places they are foundindian meal moths are pantry pests while clothes mothsas their name indicatesfeed on fabrics. Identifying pantry moths how do i know if i have pantry moths.
All will settle where there is a supply of food resulting in an infestation where larvae can soon become a serious problem. How moths get in. Read on for more information on clothes moths their identification the difference from stored food moths the damage. If you suspect a package has moths look inside to see if it has any strange clumping or bad odors which can indicate larvae.
There are a few species of moth found in homes that can cause problems and these moths have differing preferences for materials which means their larvae cause slightly different damage to fabrics and materials for example. Mediterranean indian brown house white shouldered. They spin a mat or tube of silk webbing to hide them from view during the feeding process. Both types of lepidoptera are thought to have evolved along with.
Understand that each type of moth feeds on a different type of material. But those moths that are fluttering around are the warning sign that you have a problem to address. The most common way to contract a moth infestation is by carrying infected items into the home. Moths dont actually eat fabric their main purpose is to reproduce its their larvae that do all the damage.
You may see moths attracted to your outdoor lights at night but these are not the types of moths usually invade the home. Well to be honest it is mostly their babies that do the damage. Look for small brownish moths in your pantry area. Webbing moths prefer woolen items but may consume and damage other animal type products.
Casemaking clothes moths feed from inside cases they make from silk and fibers of the infested garment. When moths get into a home they can do all sorts of damage.