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INDIAN MEAL MOTH:

The Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella), also spelled Indian meal moth, sometimes known as the North American High-Flyer, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. Its larvae (caterpillars), commonly known as waxworms, are a common grain-feeding pest found around the world, feeding on cereals and dry grain products.
Etymology
The common name for this species was coined by Asa Fitch, an entomologist employed by the state of New York during the nineteenth century. In a report published in 1856, Fitch described the species, noting that the larvae infest stores of cornmeal, which was then called "Indian meal".
Indianmeal moths are also sometimes referred to as "flour moths" or "pantry moths".
Life cycle
Female moths lay between 60 and 400 eggs on a food surface, which are ordinarily smaller than 0.5 mm and not sticky. The eggs hatch in 2 to 14 days. The moth larvae (known as waxworms) are off-white with brown heads. When these larvae mature, they are usually about 12 mm long. The larval stage lasts from 2 to 41 weeks, depending on the temperature.
Adult moths are 810 mm in length with 1620 mm wingspans. The outer half of their forewings are bronze, copper, or dark gray in color, while the upper half are yellowish-gray, with a dark band at the intersection between the two.
The entire life cycle may range from 30 to 300 days.
Systematics
The genus Plodia is closely related to the genera Cadra and Ephestia, which both also have pest species. The almond moth (Ephestia kautella) is commonly confused with the Indianmeal moth.
Pest Control
After larvae or moths have been found, it is important to throw out all grains (cereal, bread, pasta, rice), spices, dried fruits (raisins), and any other food sources that are not in very tightly sealed containers. The moths are able to get into surprisingly tight spots, including sealed bags and Tupperware containers. The food they infest will often seem to be webbed together. They are also notoriously difficult to get rid of, and can crawl on ceilings and spin cocoons in rooms other than the kitchen or pantry where they hatched. Last instar larvae are able to travel significant distances before they pupate. When seeking the source of an infestation, do not limit your searches to the immediate area where pupae are discovered.
One way to keep the moths away is to place bay leaves in the food containers along with the original grains. However, products already affected should still be thrown away.
Nontoxic traps are also available to inhibit the development of adult moths and precipitate their destruction. For example, one type of trap is a triangular box with a lure inside and sticky walls. These traps are generally known as pheromone traps. In this case male moths are attracted inside by the female pheromone (the lure) and then get stuck against the sticky walls inside of the box. Moths often do not even need a lure, as common glue traps sometimes work well to reduce the number of adults.

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1-877-741-BUGS(2847)

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WE COVER ALL OF SAN BERNARDINO & RIVERSIDE COUNTY!

Cathedral City Banning Beaumont Blythe Calimesa Canyon Lake Coachella Corona Desert Hot Springs Hemet Indian Wells Indio LaQuinta Lake Elsinore Menifee Moreno Valley Murrieta NorcoPalm Desert Palm Springs Perris Rancho Mirage Riverside San Jacinto Temecula Wildomar

Cathedral City Banning Beaumont Blythe Calimesa Canyon Lake Coachella Corona Desert Hot Springs
Hemet Indian Wells Indio LaQuinta Lake Elsinore Menifee Moreno Valley Murrieta Norco
Palm Desert Palm Springs Perris Rancho Mirage Riverside San Jacinto Temecula Wildomar