Even though the storm missed most of us, the tropical rains and wind from Hurricane Debby kept us mostly indoors this past weekend – and may have forced some unwanted guests inside with us.

No, we don’t mean your Uncle Louis, who always wants to stay on your couch when his mobile home is threatened by the storm – we’re talking about the Indianmeal moth.

Time to Clean the Closets

Also known as a pantry moth, the University of Florida notes these pesky bugs have been called, “the most important pest of stored products commonly found in American homes or grocery stores.”

While most moths are drawn to light – in one way or another – and eat nectar, sap, flowers (and occasionally our clothing), Plodia interpunctella have developed a taste for grains and meal. That includes seeds, pasta, dog food, and some spices.

Pantry moths are grey, brown and/or tan, with wings, of course – about 5/8-inches across. The moths themselves are less of a threat than the eggs they lay after they hatch. Pantry moths lay up to 400 eggs at a time that hatch in 5-7 days.

The larvae begin eating almost as soon as they’re hatched. And they continue snacking on your dry goods for 2-3 months before they decide to move into cocoons for their metamorphosis. In about 15-20 days, they transform into moths, mate and lay another 400 eggs.

Oh, and we should mention, the process is accelerated in high humidity.

So, imagine you only bake at Christmastime. Sometime around Thanksgiving you open your not-quite-airtight containers – and the flour and cornmeal move like they’re alive.

Preventing or Managing Infestation

The easiest way to keep pantry moths from invading your flour and other dry goods is what we’ve already hinted at. Keep everything in airtight containers. That could be the aluminum cannisters you inherited from your mom or grandma, but more likely, we’re talking hard plastic containers with rubber “locking” seals.

It also helps to implement a FIFO/First In First Out approach to dry goods. The more organized you are, the less chance of pantry moth contamination – or the need to run down to Winn Dixie or Publix to buy supplies you just know you have….somewhere.

Sadly, sometimes buying goods at the local grocery store is what causes the contamination. Especially if a store is bringing in a lot more goods than usual because of the season, enhancing the chance pantry moths invade their paper-wrapped goods and you end up bringing them home.

You can also toss many grain and nut products in the freezer or refrigerator rather than in the pantry or cupboards. There’s no chance of moth activity and often they’ll stay fresher longer.

Unfortunately, once you have pantry moths, you’ll need to throw out whatever they’re in and carefully check every other container you have. That can be costly, but it’s the only way to get them out once they’re in.

To keep them away, use scents like cedar, lavender, and peppermint. You can line your cabinets with cedar, although that can get pricey. Instead, use or mix a cleaning solution with peppermint or lavender essential oils. You can also hang potpourri sachets made with dried mint leaves or lavender flowers.

Of course, you can reduce the likelihood of pantry moths sniffing out your place by keeping things clean. Wipe up crumbs and vacuum under and around your stove and food prep areas.

Final Solutions

If it’s really bad – and we mean really bad – you can always call an expert.

Our most popular product – Go Green Perimeter Plus – is equipped to handle the most prevalent pests we see here in Florida. We can help take care of your moth problem and protect your whole home from ants, roaches, spiders and silverfish that find their way in.

During our initial inspection, we find and recommend closing any potential entry points to your home, preventing any further incursions. And all of our treatments are as green as possible and safe for the environment as well as your family and pets. For more details, or to schedule your first inspection, please give us a call!