All About Insects The Pantry Pest® Trap Controls
Meal moths are the most common species of moth to be found in a variety of areas where food is stored. Besides, your home kitchen, these pests may be found in grocery stores and restaurants.
Observation, sanitation, disposal, and proper storage are all ways to help prevent and control infestations. Moth pheromone traps, often called pantry moth traps, also help control these kitchen cupboard pests.
Learn more about meal moths as well as other common flying insects in the home:
Control Options for Meal Moths from Safer® Brand
Natural & Organic Controls
What?
Moth pheromone traps, often called pantry moth traps, can help in controlling meal moths. Insecticides are not recommended because of the dangers that could result from contact with foods.
How?
Moth pheromone traps, either pantry moth traps or clothes moth traps, can be used to alert you to moth problems and to monitor the level of infestation. Male meal moths are attracted to the pheromone in the pantry moth trap and enter the trap where it is caught and cannot escape.
Pantry moth traps should be placed near the ceiling or area where the meal moths fly. Carefully read and follow all instructions completely for safe and effective use.
When?
At the first sign of an infestation, place a pheromone trap in the home to monitor the level of infestation. Remember for every one male meal moth caught in the pantry moth trap, seven others have avoided it.
Why Choose a Natural Solution?
Natural solutions break down quickly to their natural elements. They are preferable to chemical pesticides that leave residuals where they are sprayed causing long-term detrimental effects on the environment.
Environmental Controls
What?
Some of the best methods of controlling these food pests is through control of the environment that entices the meal moth. Observation, sanitation, disposal and proper storage are all ways that help prevent and control infestations.
How?
Observation: Check packaged food to make sure there are no holes or other signs of infestation.
Sanitation: Clean up food and liquid spills. Vacuuming powder and granular spills and any larvae that are present will go a long way in helping to control meal moths.
Disposal: Dispose of any food products if any signs of infestation are present in the food. In lieu of discarding any exposed food that does not show signs of larval entry or infestation, you can use extreme heat or freezing to destroy any undetected moth larvae.
To use the heat method, heat food in a 120-140 degrees F oven for at least 20 minutes. To freeze, place food in freezer for several days. You may want to then sift the product to see if any larva are present and if they have been killed.
Proper Storage: Store loose foods in airtight hard containers. Larvae can eat through plastic storage bags.
When?
Check packaged foods before taking them into your home. Clean up any spills and vacuum cupboards immediately. Dispose of any food products at the first sign of infestation. You can heat or freeze certain food products that have been exposed to an infestation. Place foods in airtight hard containers when you have brought them home from the store.
Indoor Moth FAQs
Q: My “baking” cupboard has tiny moths. How did they get there? How do I get rid of them?
A: They are most likely meal moths which feast on cereal, flower, seeds, grain, pet food and dried fruit. The adult
moths and their caterpillar larvae may have been carried inside your home in groceries. An open window may
also be an entrance for an adult moth.
Once inside your home, they seek out food and lay their larvae inside food packages or in cracks and tiny
spaces of the food cupboards, resulting in a full-blown infestation. Using a pheromone based pantry moth
trap, you can readily be alerted to their presence.
To get rid of them, remove any food products and bags from the affected cupboard. Thoroughly vacuum
your cupboard and caulk any cracks or similar small spaces of your cupboard. Either discard the contaminated
food in a tightly sealed bag or container, or freeze the food for one week, thaw for one week, then freeze
again for a week, killing both eggs and hatched larvae. Using our pantry moth traps, you can check if you
have eliminated them.
Find out more about these bothersome kitchen pests in our section All About Meal Moths: Facts.
Q: Why are moths attracted to my clothes stored in my closet?
A: It is the larvae of the clothes moths that cause the damage. They feast on clothing, particularly wool and fur
clothing, rugs, furniture. The female moth is attracted to clothing that has food stains or perspiration.
She lays her eggs on the clothing and when they eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the fibers in the clothes.
Still want to know more? See our section All About Clothes Moths: Facts.
