Nobody likes the larvae and moths of kitchen moths in their food. We reveal how to recognize food moths, how to prevent them and how to fight them successfully.
The terms "food moth", "kitchen moth" or "edible moth" encompass several pests. Strictly speaking, food moths include the dried fruit moth (Plodia Interpunctella), the flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella) and the store moth (Ephestia elutella). At this point, however, we can tell you that it is not absolutely necessary to distinguish between moth species for prevention and control. An infestation by food moths can, for example, be caused by contaminated food, which unfortunately occasionally circulates through the retail trade. Another possibility is the arrival of adult kitchen moths through open windows, which then infest the stored food. In both cases it is not absolutely necessary that you also see the adult moths. Because the actual damage to the food is done by the larvae of the food moth.
Recognizing food moths: This is what the larvae and moths look like
The different food moths do not all look the same, but they can still be easily distinguished from the well-known clothes moths. Our special article on distinguishing between food moths and clothes moths provides you with the necessary knowledge. Unlike the diurnal butterflies, they always keep their wings folded against their body when sitting. The different kitchen moths can reach a size of 0.4 to 1.4 cm.
Moth traps such as our Plantura food moth traps are ideal for early detection and identification. These enable timely control before the infestation becomes too severe. The pheromone panels used for this purpose contain an odor that male moths cannot resist. The attractant specifically only attracts and helps food mothsthus also in the differentiation from other moth species. In nature, pheromones are secreted by females for males to find. Attracted by the trap's pheromones, male food moths stick to the glued boards.
But we would also like to point out that the pheromone traps can only be used to detect and monitor an infestation. Moth traps are not suitable for effective control, since a few males always remain and mate - due to the large number of eggs laid by each female moth, a heavy infestation can still occur in this way.
As mentioned before, it is the food moth larvae that do the actual damage. Adult moths lay their eggs nearby or directly in suitable supplies and the hatching larvae feed on the food around them as they develop. They then pupate in as dark and dry a place as possible. The new, adult moths can then either lay their eggs in the same store or travel long distances to new food sources. Depending on the type of food moth, between 50 and 400 eggs can be laid. A single female can cause major problems in the pantry.
Tip: The various food moths can eat natural, ground and processed grain products, nuts, legumes, cocoa and chocolate, tea and spices, dried and fresh fruit, dried and fresh vegetables, infest, digest and contaminate hay and straw outdoors, and in special cases even tobacco.
An infestation with food moths can be recognized very well by the webs. For example, if a few grains of grain are clinging to the packaging as if by magic, or if lumps form in the flour or grain, this is a sure sign of the presence of webs. But the larvae themselves are also easy to see in the food. Only right after hatching are they still so small that they are basically invisible to the human eye. However, the caterpillars continue to develop quickly and are then easily recognizable at lengths of up to 1.7 cm. But you will not find any beautiful caterpillars, as one is used to from butterflies. The inconspicuous larvae of food moths are much more like unspectacular maggots. Incidentally, the optimum development temperature for the larvae is 30 °C, which is why the pestsmainly occur in the warm summer months.
Summary - Recognizing Edible Moths:
- Adults: 0.4 to 1.4 cm moths with brown mottled wings
- Larvae: maggot-like caterpillars of up to 1.7 cm
- Gespinste: Recognizable by clumped food
- Like to attack grain, flour, nuts or tea and a number of other foods
- Occur mainly in the warm summer months
- Moth traps like our Plantura food moth traps help with simple, early and reliable infestation detection
How do food moths arise?
Food moths can occur in every household and are not necessarily a sign of poor hygiene. However, if food is left unprotected, moths and larvae can quickly gain access and make the food inedible.
The most common cause of an infestation is food that remains in its original packaging. Plastic films or paper and cardboard packaging are no obstacle. There, the larvae simply eat a small entrance to get to the food. Of course, it can also happen that the kitchen moths are already in the groceries when you are shopping - fortunately this only happens very rarely.
Tip: It is not the larvae that make inedible food inedible, because these are completely non-toxic - rather it is the larvae's droppings and the webs of the larvae that contaminate your supplies. In addition, other pests, such as fungi and mites, can settle through the droppings and webs. Since poisonous mold can also be found among the fungi, the infested food belongs directly in the garbage can.
Prevent food moths
To prevent infestation with food moths, food should not be stored in the sales packaging, but in airtight glass, ceramic or thick plastic containers. This is the only way to keep the voracious larvae away from your food. Even a simple screw cap does not offer 100% protection, as the small larvae can overcome this too. Regularly clearing crumbs from cupboards and countertops, and putting fly screens on windows also helps.
WithWith our Plantura food moth traps, an infestation cannot be prevented, but it can be detected at a very early stage. This way you can quickly take control measures and save most of your food.
Summary - Preventing Kitchen Moths:
- Place foods that will be stored for long periods in airtight glass, ceramic or thick plastic containers beforehand
- Attach pheromone moth traps for early detection of an infestation
Fighting Food Moths: How to Get Rid of Them
If an infestation is discovered, all food should first be checked for larvae and webs. Affected food should always be thrown away. However, because the animals can continue to develop in household waste, they should be killed beforehand. This is best done in the freezer. There, the food must be frozen for three days and only then can the food be disposed of with household waste. In order to combat food moths in your kitchen in the long term, however, further steps are necessary, which we would now like to present to you below.
parasitic wasps against food moths
Moth eggs are a big problem. Since they are so small that we cannot see them, it makes sense to get help to get rid of them at home. Ichneumon wasps of the genus Trichogramma have proven to be valuable beneficial insects, as they are highly specialized and specifically search for the small moth eggs in order to lay their own eggs in them. The larvae of the parasitic wasps use the moth eggs as both a habitat and a source of food, causing them to die. The parasitic wasps themselves are so small that they can hardly be seen and practically turn to dust after their short lifespan. Infested food should of course also be disposed of first with this method.
Our Plantura parasitic wasps against food moths also belong to the genus Trichogramma, more precisely to the species Trichogramma evanescens. They enable chemical-free and biological control of food moths. You will receive 2000 of the small beneficial insects as eggs on cards that you can place in the affected areas. The number of cards required depends on the size of the affected area. For a moth infestation in a normal-sized kitchen, we recommend fourCards.
In order to achieve successful and lasting moth control, it is important to release the parasitic wasps regularly and until all eggs have been destroyed - we recommend four repetitions for final elimination of food moths. So that you always have fresh parasitic wasps at home at the right time, we deliver your cards conveniently to your home every two weeks. The parasitic wasps are of course completely harmless to you and your pets, because they cannot sting and only take care of laying their eggs. After successful control, the last generation simply dies off, since it can no longer reproduce without new moth eggs. To check the control success, we also recommend pheromone moth traps such as our Plantura food moth traps. They help to identify whether your kitchen is and will remain moth-free.
Summary - How are parasitic wasps used against kitchen moths?
- Determine the infestation: e.g. by finding larvae and webs or adult animals on moth traps
- Order Plantura parasitic wasps against food moths (one card per square meter or closed cupboard compartment)
- Check food stocks and freeze and then dispose of infested food
- Place Plantura parasitic wasp cards
- Repeat: You will automatically receive a new delivery every 2 weeks
- Cheer: After 4 repetitions, the little pests are destroyed
- Wipe cupboards with a damp cloth to remove any traces
Home remedies against food moths
If you want to try your luck with home remedies, you can use vinegar as an all-purpose weapon. A vinegar and water mixture should be used to give the pantry or pantry a thorough cleaning, which will kill the kitchen moth eggs. However, it is difficult to really get all the eggs in this process, and there is a risk that the pests will spread again after a while. Ichneumon wasps guarantee more effective elimination.
Moths also develop much faster in warm temperatures, while development can be greatly delayed in cold temperatures. Depending on the species, the development can therefore be stopped completely below low single-digit temperatures. Because the dried fruit moth and the flour moth in particular are more attached to warmer regions such as the Mediterraneancustomized. Here, too, it is important to dispose of all infested food beforehand. Because even after the pests have been killed, the webs and debris left by the larvae can spoil the food.
Other remedies against food moths
Insect sprays or other chemical sprays could also help against food moths, of course, but we advise against them. Because you would have to use the agents in the immediate vicinity of your food and would also come into direct contact with the often harmful ingredients during use. Biological control with parasitic wasps, on the other hand, offers a safe and sustainable alternative.
Incidentally, parasitic wasps can not only be used against food moths, but also against clothes moths. Learn how to tell the two pests apart in our dedicated article on the difference between clothes moths and food moths.