Pantry moths are one of the most common household pests, but experts say they are also one of the easiest to beat once you know where to look. A report by marthastewart.com laid out how to spot infested food, clear an infestation and stop the moths returning.
Pantry moths usually enter a home inside groceries bought from the store. Certified entomologist Katie Hinson said the pests are most often already living inside dry goods such as grains, dried fruit, dried peppers and nuts before they are even brought home. She added that rodents or birds can also carry them in if there is an infestation nearby or inside the property.
Moths spotted in a pantry are most likely Indian meal moths, though they can be confused with Mediterranean flour moths, brown house moths and almond moths.
Signs of an infestation
Small beige or greyish moths near kitchen cupboards or the pantry, especially at night, are one warning sign. Others include silky webbing on food or shelves, larvae inside packaging or in cracks, food that has clumped together, and small holes in packaging.
Five steps to clear an infestation
The first step is to empty the pantry completely, removing food, containers, trays and anything else so every surface can be checked.
Next, every item needs to be inspected and any infested food thrown out. That means checking cereal, flour, oats, pasta, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, spices, and pet or bird food, including packages that are sealed. Infested food should be carried straight out of the house to an outdoor bin.
The third step is vacuuming the shelves thoroughly, paying close attention to cracks, corners, shelf-bracket holes, hinges and the point where shelves meet the wall, since larvae and pupae can hide there. The vacuum canister or bag should be emptied or thrown away immediately afterward.
Shelves and containers should then be washed, and soap and water are enough for the job.
Indu Upadhyaya, a doctor of veterinary medicine and food safety professor, said there is no strong reason to regularly spray a pantry with vinegar, bleach or other disinfectants to control pantry moths. She said what matters most is physically removing the insects, eggs, larvae and the food residue they feed on.
Anyone planning to call in a pest control professional should hold off clearing everything away first. Hinson advised leaving an infested container untouched so a specialist can examine the evidence of moths.
The final step is taking the rubbish out right away. Infested food and cleanup waste should go into bags and be thrown into a closed outdoor bin, since moths can climb out of an open indoor bin.
Do you have to throw everything away
Not necessarily. Glass and metal jars, along with sturdy plastic containers, usually keep food safe from moths, but larvae can get through the seams of thin packaging or chew through it directly. Any dry goods stored nearby should be checked for webbing, larvae, holes or clumping.
Freezing can kill eggs and larvae, but food needs to be kept at around minus 18 degrees Celsius for several days for it to work. The method does not remove webbing or other insect residue.
Do pheromone traps help
Pheromone traps attract male moths and can help track pest activity, but they do not remove the source of an infestation, so infested food still needs to be found and cleared out.
Keeping moths from coming back
Once a pantry has been cleaned, dry goods should be stored in tightly sealed glass or metal containers. Flour, cereal and pet food should be checked after purchase, and clear packaging should be inspected for webbing. Crumbs and spilled food should be cleaned up right away, and stock should be checked regularly, using older items first.
When to call a professional
If moths keep appearing weeks after infested food has been removed and the pantry has been thoroughly cleaned, it may be worth calling in a professional, since this can mean the source of the infestation was never found.
Most moths are active at night and hide in dark, quiet spots during the day. Under the right conditions, females lay eggs quickly, which is why populations can grow fast. Tackling only the adult moths is not enough: the breeding site has to be dealt with too, or the pests will keep coming back.
