Pantry moths are very common in Australia. They are basically moths that are found in pantries or meals. They are also well-known as ‘Indian moths’ in some countries. These pests are different from regular moths because instead of damaging your belongings, they attack your stored food supplies. Stores, kitchens, food processing plants, pantries, selling food, etc are some indoor locations where you can easily find pantry moths. They are tiny winged pests that can be grey as well as brown in colour. These insects horribly damage and contaminate your food by invading their larvae in the supplies. So, see how pantry moths are harmful to you when they are in your presence.

How are Pantry Moths Different From Cloth Moths?

People often get confused between pantry moths and clothes moths. However, you can tell the difference between both of them by inspecting the following features:

• Pantry moths are smaller than cloth moths. They have a 5/8-inch wingspan.
• The colour of their wings is light grey but the outer area of the wings is brownish-red. 
• Also, there is a black band that connects the upper wing to the lower wing. 

How Harmful Are Pantry Moths?

Contaminate Your Food

These insects are attracted to food supplies like cereals, bread, flour, grain, spices, and other kinds of processed foods. Therefore, they are most likely to be found in your kitchen invading your food storage area. Because of their small size, they can easily enter your property from small cracks, crevices, open windows or gates, vents, or even cables that are entering the property. They have a strong sense of smell, therefore, they always know where your food items are stored. However, you can avoid these pests by making sure that all your food items are stored safely in a tightly sealed container so that there is no way for them to enter.

Infest Your Property Easily

Pantry moths can easily infest your house within a very short period of time. This is because, despite their small size, they can still lay around 400 eggs. Additionally, they can hatch within a few weeks. The damage begins to take place when the pantry moths reach the larval period. The reason behind this is when they are not hibernating, they tend to chew and eat whatever they have their hands on.

After 2-3 months they shift to their cocoons. You can find these cocoons in the tiniest cracks, crevices, or any hidden spot that you can think of. After the cocoon period of around 20 days, the moths are considered adults. Female adult moths again start laying eggs. Mostly they lay eggs on the food supplies which continue the entire lifecycle.

Damage Pantry Supplies On A Large Scale

Although these creatures are harmless to animals and humans. But they can do a lot of damage to your food supplies. These insects can not sting you or bite you but they can contaminate your food items which can eventually lead to some health risks. Contamination of any kind can cause health issues. Therefore, when there is an infestation, it is best to discard all the contaminated food supplies to prevent any uncertainties.

Conclusion

If you are dealing with any issues related to any pests including carpet moth, you can connect with experts for affordable, sustainable, and effective pest solutions. Pest exterminators can help you have a safe space on your property and protect you from any health hazard like food poisoning. Additionally, experts do a thorough pest inspection of your property to make sure that it is clear from all the sources of a future infestation. So, give experts a ring to have a professional pest controller at your property on the same day of booking. You can even unhesitantly ask professionals for a quote as they have a free quotation policy that includes no obligation.

Read More: Professional Non-Toxic Pest Control Methods.