What is an Indian meal moth?
An Indian meal moth is a type of stored product pest or pantry pest; the adult Indian meal moths will lay their eggs on or inside of packaged food like: dried fruit, dried milk, dried pastas, bread, flour, dry pet food, crackers, and chocolate. The eggs hatch and the larvae will spin silky threads throughout the food as they feed and crawl around in it eventually emerging as adults.
Adult Indian meal moths grow to be between ½ and 5/8th of an inch in length. The back half of their distinctive wings is copper, dark gray, or bronze, and the front half is a yellow-gray. The two halves of the wings are divided by a dark colored band.
Why do I have them?
It is possible for adult Indian meal moths to enter your home through cracks found around exterior windows and doors; however, it is more likely that they were introduced into your home from already infested products. Indian meal moths are commonly introduced into homes in food that was purchased from stores whose packaging had small rips or tears in it or in packaging that was infested at the packaging plant.
Are they dangerous?
Indian meal moths are not known for transmitting any dangerous diseases or for biting or stinging people. Their eggs and larvae, however, are very damaging and will contaminate food sources found within your home; once contaminated, the food will need to be discarded.
Can I do it myself?
Do-it-yourself Indian meal moth control is not recommended. All of the eggs, larvae, and adults must be found and eliminated in order to truly get rid of an infestation – a process that is very difficult. Also, a novice using DIY chemicals and pesticides around food is never a safe idea.
How soon can you get here?
We fully understand how stressful pest problems can be for you and your family and are dedicated to making sure that we get help to you as quickly as possible. In most instances, Schendel will respond the same or very next day.
Is the treatment safe?
Yes, our treatment methods are safe for use around people, pets, and plants. We use the least amount of material possible to solve your pest problem whether that is using natural products, baits, mechanical means, or conventional products.
We follow very strict guidelines, and all of our conventional products are EPA registered. Our trained and experienced service technicians will also inform you of any specific safety measures that may need to be taken before treatment begins.
How much does it cost?
We have standard pricing for all of our pest services, based on an average size home under 3500 square feet and where the infestation does not require more than the standard number of services. We will always make you aware of any price changes before we start your service. Sign up for your FREE quote today and see how much you can save with Schendel.
How can I prevent this in the future?
The best way to stop pest infestations, including Indian meal moth infestations, is to have a year-round home pest control plan in place. Along with professional pest control there are a few things that you can do around your home prevent problems with Indian meal moths:
- Caulk gaps found in all exterior windows and doors; make sure that any screens are completely intact.
- Inspect food packaging for rips and tears before purchasing it from the store.
- Rotate food in your pantry regularly, getting rid of old or expired items.
- Place dry goods in plastic or glass sealed containers instead of keeping them in their original packaging.
