Most adult moth species don’t actually eat at all. Instead, they only live long enough to mate. Adult moths do still seek out food sources, however, because they lay their eggs onto these food sources directly.
Moth larvae, which look like tiny caterpillars, voraciously eat (and damage) the food they hatch in. They burrow into and eat through their food sources continuously, leaving behind waste and shed skin in the process.
Moths reproduce sexually and can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetimes. Rate of moth development depends on temperature and food availability in the environment where the moths live. In warm climates, moth eggs hatch in four to ten days. In colder temperatures, they can take up to three weeks.
After hatching, larvae feed continuously, growing enough to shed their skin several times. After consuming enough food, larvae pupate in cocoons near their food sources. Pupation time varies from eight days to several weeks. Moths emerge from pupation fully-grown and ready to reproduce.
Female adult fabric moths lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs on promising food sources and die shortly thereafter. The time it takes to hatch is based on the temperature of their environment. In warm environments, the eggs could hatch 4 to 10 days.
After hatching, larvae begin feeding and growing immediately. As larvae grow, they will molt continuously up to 45 times. Depending on temperature and food availability, moths could remain larvae for only 35 days or up to 2 and a half years. After they’ve finally eaten and grown enough, larvae pupate inside silk cocoons. Pupation takes between 1 and 4 weeks newly emerged adult moths are ready to mate immediately.
Scientific Order: Lepidoptera
Common species:
Pantry moths, including the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)
Fabric pests, including the Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the Casemaking Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella)
Indian Meal Moth
Size: 12.7 mm (½ inch) body with a 18-20 mm (¾ inch) wingspan.
Color: Prominent wings are multi-colored; the outer ⅔ of the wings are bronze or red-brown with a copper sheen. The last third, closest to the moth’s head, is grey or silver-white. The Indian Meal Moths’ head and thorax are grey-brown, and its abdomen is brown with a copper sheen.
Webbing Clothes Moth
Size: Roughly 6.35 mm (¼ inch) body with a 12 mm (½ inch) wingspan.
Color: Gold, wheat-yellow, or tan, with red-golden hairs on the end of its head and tiny gold hairs spanning the length of its wings. Lower wings are lighter gold or tan than upper wings.
Casemaking Clothes Moth
Size: Roughly 6.35 mm (¼ inch) body with a 12 mm (½ inch) wingspan.
Color: Gold or tan-yellow. Short golden hairs run the length of its body, particularly along its wings. Casemaking clothes moths look similar to webbing clothes moths, but their wings are darker and have faint black spots.
Indian meal moths infest pantries, cupboards, and other places where they can find foods like grains and cereals. They also prefer dark and damp places. Look for small rips or tears in cereal or pasta boxes, small holes in grain products, or droppings in pantries.
Fabric moths infest closets and clothing drawers, where their larvae can eat fabric in the dark. Look for small, telltale bite holes, tearing, or other damage on hanging or folded clothing. Larvae may still be on the clothing.
To prevent meal moths, store all your dry goods such as cereal, pasta, bread, and sweets in sealed, hard plastic containers. This includes pet foods. Clean your food storage areas regularly and thoroughly to prevent crumbs from accumulating.
To prevent fabric moths, keep them away from fabric. Keep clothing and other fabric-based material in plastic covers or sealable hard plastic containers. Make sure the rooms you store fabric in are dry and dehumidified.
Smithsonian Institution Entomological section on Moths
University of Florida Department of Entomology & Nematology Indian Meal Moth “featured creatures” section
Cornell University Department of Entomology Insect Diagnostic Laboratory Clothes Moths fact sheet and Indian Meal Moth fact sheet
The meal moth is capable of quick flight but tends to look clumsy or erratic while doing it. Unlike pantry moths, fabric moths prefer to find a source of food and stick close to it. They don’t fly frequently or for long periods of time but can enter your home from outside.
Fabric moths are particularly afraid of humans. If the items they’re resting or feeding on are disturbed, they’ll either run away or fly to another dark, concealed location.
Moths reproduce sexually. Once an adult female emerges from her cocoon, she releases pheromones to attract a mail suitor. After her eggs are fertilized, she’ll find a suitable food source to lay her eggs on.
Diet depends on pantry moth vs clothes moth. Meal moth larvae prefer cereals and grains while fabric moth larvae prefer natural fibers like cotton, wool and silk.
Moths weave a silky casing around themselves when it’s time to pupate. Moth cocoon identification can be tricky, look for dark gray, brown or black casings in their food sources.
Moth larvae look like small, light colored caterpillars or worms. Newly hatched larvae can be the size and shape of rice grains.
Moths enter your home for two reasons: shelter and food. Seal your home against moths and other pests. Always store food in sealed containers and keep your kitchen clean.
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