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PANTRY MOTH CONTROL

 
  1. INFESTED WITH PANTRY MOTHS?
    1. PANTRY MOTHS LOVE BIRD SEED
    2. WHERE DO PANTRY MOTHS LIVE?
  2. PANTRY MOTH ZAPPER
  3. PANTRY MOTH LIFE CYCLE
  4. GET RID OF PANTRY MOTH INFESTED FOOD
    1. HOW TO TREAT THE PANTRY MOTH INFESTED AREAS
    2. WHERE DO PANTRY MOTHS HIDE?
    3. AVOID CLEANING WITH WATER OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
    4. HOW TO TREAT A LARGE HOUSE FOR PANTRY MOTHS?
  5. BEST PANTRY MOTH TRAPS
  6. FEMALE PANTRY MOTH TRAPS
  7. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET RID OF PANTRY MOTHS?
  8. STILL SEE ADULT MOTHS AFTER 2 MONTHS?
  9. CONTACT US


Pantry pests include many crawling insects but some can fly. No doubt the beetles and weevils are easier to control. But there are flying pantry pests and these can present more of a challenge when trying to eliminate a problem because they can cover vast areas of the home. The more common flying pantry pests include Tropical Ware House Moths, Pantry Moths, and Mediterranean Flour Moths.

 

Related articles:          CLOTHS MOTHS          GYPSY MOTHS          MILLER MOTHS            MOTH FLY        WEBBING MOTHS

 

INFESTED WITH PANTRY MOTHS? ^

In most cases, pantry moths were brought to your home with some type of stored food product. Examples would include flour, dog food, biscuits, pasta, cereal, dried beans, bread, spices, cookies, and other standard pantry items. Another common household item which can lead to an infestation is bird seed.

Here is a common pantry moth close to an average sized finger so you can gain perspective of their size:



PANTRY MOTHS LOVE BIRD SEED ^

The packaging standard for bird seed is much less stringent compared to human food. In fact, its actually quite normal for birds to routinely eat larval stages of most any insect including pantry moths. For this reason bird seed will routinely contain contaminants such as insect eggs, pupae and active stages like larvae and adults.

Many times these insects go unnoticed when you buy product at the store but once brought home, developing larva will quickly migrate out and into your cabinet. Before you realize anything has happened, you’ll have a pantry pest infestation.




 

WHERE DO PANTRY MOTHS LIVE? ^

Due to the wide range of pantry moths we commonly find active in homes, it is important to realize that populations can easily survive outside the pantry. Be sure to include all areas of the home when trying to identify the main nest site.

If you are seeing small moths hovering around your pantry, dog feeding station, pet food storage bin or birdseed storage bin, you probably have some developing stages other than the active adults.

Pantry moths do not fly well and will like to land in the area where they know to be home. They are easy to kill but you will notice they keep coming and they create quite a mess when smashed for such a small pest.

PANTRY MOTH ZAPPER ^

To eliminate the mess, use a HAND HELD ZAPPERS for quick and clean kills. It literally “zaps” them dead on contact and it’s fun to deploy. There is no need to “swat” when using this device; just hold it close and they’ll readily fly to it. All it takes is contact while holding the “on” button and any insect will die immediately.

HHZ

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PANTRY MOTH LIFE CYCLE ^

Ultimately you will need to break the life cycle of your pantry moths to eliminate the problem for good. This means doing some cleanup and treating.

MEAL MOTH INFESTED SEMOLINA PASTACrawling stages do not fly but can be seen on countertops and cabinet shelves. These larvae are quite small. In general, they’re not much bigger than a grain of rice and are easy to miss.

The live cycle of pantry moths is like any insect; egg, larva, pupa and lastly adult.

When the egg hatches, the larvae will feed. After getting its full (which usually takes 2-4 weeks), it will then spin a cocoon where it will undergo metamorphosis. After its fully developed, it will hatch and emerge as the flying adult. The adult has nothing but reproduction on its mind and females will lay eggs quickly following fertilization.

Adult females will look for other places to lay eggs. Expect these locations to be close to where the original infestation began but it can end up on the other side of the home. Although the duration of time will vary for different species to complete their respective live cycles, the process for controlling pantry moths is the same regardless of which species you have active.

GET RID OF PANTRY MOTH INFESTED FOOD ^

To stop the cycle of pantry moths, you will need to identify the infested food product which started the problem. Once found, throw it or anything else you suspect as being infested away. If you are unsure about an item, place it in a clear plastic bag where you will be able to inspect it every day or two to watch for emerging pests. Keep these “questionable” items stored for at least 4 weeks. If nothing emerges by then, consider it safe to save.

Now if you find insects accumulating in the bag within a month, you know the foodstuff is contaminated and needs to be discarded.

HOW TO TREAT THE PANTRY MOTH INFESTED AREAS ^

Once the cabinets and pantry have been cleaned out and lay bare, you may treat before placing anything back. Pantry moth eggs and pupae will no doubt be hidden in these areas and though vacuuming will remove some, its not possible to get them all. And since it only takes 2-3 missed pantry moths to enable a new infestation, its best to treat the areas and be done with them for good.

The best way to treat these areas is to do what we call “crack and crevice” spraying. Basically this is best done with an aerosol; its when the chemical being applied is placed specifically into cracks, voids and gaps where the target pest is most likely to be nesting. This type of application should be done with a “tube” or “straw” injector which will enable you to get the product exactly where it needs to be.

WHERE DO PANTRY MOTHS HIDE? ^

With pantry moths, the larva will feed for several days and then seek a place to spin their cocoon and pupate. Although this can happen where they are feeding in boxed food, it will also occur where they migrate to throughout the kitchen. In fact its very common to find them in the cracks between shelves, behind baseboard molding, in door frames and then out around sinks, garbage bins, stoves, refrigerators and even under dishwashers. To be safe, you need to treat all these areas at least once.

By treating all these areas, if migrating larva move over the treatment, they will die. This helps by breaking the cycle and is key. Since no chemical can kill eggs or pupa, it is very likely that some will still exist following the cleanup so be sure to treat thoroughly at least once. The good news is larvae are quite weak and susceptible to chemical. But you need to use the right one.

And the best aerosol for moths is FS MP. It comes with a special straw injector tube which makes for an easy application. FS MP has strong oil based solvents which will penetrate eggs and pupae making it the only product that can kill all stages. If you’re thorough with your treatment, you can rule out every area you treat and with any luck, end the activity for good.

FS MP AEROSOL
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AVOID CLEANING WITH WATER OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS ^

It is important to understand that cleaning cabinets and pantries with water, bleach or some other household detergent WILL NOT provide control. In fact the cleaning agents quickly break down and the remaining moisture is exactly what developing larvae and pupae need so the net result of cleaning is in general a way to make the problem worse.

In the end, failure to do the crack and crevice treatment with FS MP will allow the problem to persist and feel like its “never ending”. We’ve seen this happen with many customers where they believed their cleaning would solve the issue. In the end, the pantry moths came back every few months with a “surge” of adults. This will in turn lead to more eggs, etc.

And even though these homeowners threw everything out, nothing really changed. The few eggs and cocoons which were hidden are always going to be enough to let these persistent pests repopulate. So to avoid this from happening, use the residual FS MP Aerosol and you will save yourself a lot of aggravation and extra work.

HOW TO TREAT A LARGE HOUSE FOR PANTRY MOTHS? ^

Now for homes or commercial establishments which are large, using an aerosol can be both time consuming and costly. So for these scenarios, you should still use the FS MP for crack and crevices.

But for the extensive baseboards, carpets and other flat areas where larvae or eggs might be crawling and hiding, apply BITHOR. This odorless concentrate is mixed with water and applied to the areas where the target pest is nesting as well as where the might end up going for egg laying. Mix 1 ounce per gallon of water and apply the mixed product over 1,000 sq/ft of area.

Bithor will kill active stages quickly and it has a second active that lasts long term for egg control.


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To make the proper treatment, you’ll need a good PUMP SPRAYER. Our design comes with the right fan tips needed to insure uniform coverage when spraying large areas.  In the end, this method of application is far more effective for large areas and will prove to be easier for getting every area properly protected. This is especially true if you are treating a warehouse, stockroom or a house with large rooms.

SOLO BUGSPRAY SPRAYER

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BEST PANTRY MOTH TRAPS ^

Lastly, you’ll need to set out some PANTRY MOTH TRAPS. These small glue traps use the female moths sex pheromone as “lure” which will attract all emerging males that have missed the treatments. These newly hatched males have one thing on their mind: find a female!

Use at least one trap per cabinet or pantry; 3-6 per house if the infestation is distributed throughout the home.

Meal Moth Traps

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For this reason, male moths are vulnerable and cannot resist the smell of our traps. They’ll readily enter the trap and get stuck on the glue inside and die. Expect to catch a lot of moths and expect to replace them every 90 days or sooner if they fill up.

 

FEMALE PANTRY MOTH TRAPS ^

For a never ending problem, you may need to install PANTRY MOTH SUPPRESSOR TRAPS. This latest design of pantry moth trap uses both male and female pheromones. The trap itself is larger and designed with colorations that females find to be especially attractive. These traps are packed 5 traps to a set. The set includes male lures and special female “wicks” which contain the scent females interpret to mean as a good place to lay eggs.

Meal Moth Suppression KIt

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MEAL MOTH COVERED TRAPIn badly infested structures, these traps will be needed if you wish to break the moth cycle once and for all. Where problems are more moderate to mild, the use of our standard pantry moth traps should suffice since they’ll collect the males.

Regardless of the severity of the problem, the use of traps is very important when dealing with pantry moths. Only by catching and killing adult moths can you be sure that you are actively stopping the act of reproduction and egg laying.

 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET RID OF PANTRY MOTHS? ^

Once you initiate the proper pantry moth control program outlined above, you should not expect instant results. Since nothing can kill the pupal stage of this pest, it will take some time for the population to “run out”.

A structure properly treated with FS MP and Bithor will eventually break the cycle of this pest. Moth traps installed will intercept adults before they are able to mate and lay new eggs. Theoretically, this means the only part left of the population will be the pupae. And since these hard shelled cocoon’s will not hatch and emerge till they are ready, it could be another 4-8 weeks for all of them to hatch.

During this time its entirely possible to see some flying around. But if you treated right and keep an adequate amount of traps installed, these adults will have no place to go where they can “do their thing”. Eventually the population will run out of pupa and when that happens, you won’t see any more new activity.

 

STILL SEE ADULT MOTHS AFTER 2 MONTHS? ^

If you still see adult moths after 2 months of treating and removing the main food source or if you’re not able to locate the food source yet you keep finding moths flying around, it could be that your home is serving as a “moth magnet”. This commonly happens following an infestation can take 1-2 years to end.

Pantry moths have a tremendous range and can detect pheromones for miles. So any home which had activity will continue to attract moths from outside the home. Since pantry moths live outside during the spring, summer and fall, they’ll follow this scent to your home and once they arrive, find a way inside. The common routes of entry include the fireplace, heating/air exhaust pipes, attic spaces and crawl spaces. Of course they can enter through the front door, garage doors and windows too.

So if you have moth traps out 2 months after the initial treatments and continue to see nothing but adults, its a sure sign that adults are foraging inside.

To stop this behavior, you first need to remove all known moth traps from inside the home. Place them in a plastic garbage bag and seal them up before placing them in the garbage.

Next, install AEROSOL MACHINES fitted with CLEAR ZONE refills. These machines will release a small amount of pyrethrin which in turn will kill any flying insect in the home like moths, mosquitoes, gnats, fruit flies and more.

Each machine can cover up to 400 sq/ft and they should be placed in any room which has had adult moths active. Common rooms to use these machines would include the kitchen, pantry, living room, garage, attic or great room.

AUTOMATIC AEROSOL MACHINE

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Each machine should be filled with a can of CLEAR ZONE aerosol which will last 1 month. It can be used safely in the home, around the clock, and won’t pose a hazard to people or pets. The small release of pyrethrin will kill off all adults and in turn, assure that none are able to mate and lay eggs.

CLEAR ZONE

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CONTACT US ^

Give us a call if you need further help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. On Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and on Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time).

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Comments

  1. wendy says

    May 8, 2013 at 4:38 pm

    I have a 3 month old. Are any of these baby safe?

     
    Reply
    • Tech Support says

      May 8, 2013 at 5:18 pm

      In fact all the products listed above can be used safely around people (including infants) and pets. The key is to follow the safety guidelines we have meticulously outlined in our safety video’s. These video’s appear at the bottom of our product pages and they cover all the “do’s and don’ts” of product use in and around the home. More information can be found here too:

      Product Safety: https://bugspray.com/about-us/who_is_bugspray.html#safe_for_the_home

       
      Reply
  2. Glenn Kimbrough says

    October 2, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    For 6 years I have “battled” pantrymoths in my downstairs shop. I have partitioned off the hot water heaters and other areas using plastic sheets and 2” masking tape. I have caulked every crack and plugged every wall opening, emptied and removed all contents for the winter twice, (still stored outside from 2 years ago) painted the floor and spent hundreds (trust me I have) of dollars on bombs, sprays and traps, all without success. After reading your informative article, the light came on. Learning that the little rascals can detect the traps from a long distance, that they only are around in the spring, summer and fall, and that the traps only catch the males, I realized that the bugs were obviously entering through the vent pipe from the boiler and hot water heaters. I installed aluminum screen over the exhaust piece on the roof and overnight, my life was given back to me. No moths. I cannot thank you enough, I really can’t, for delivering me from a 6 year nightmare, always worrying that the infestation would spread into the rest of our house. Hard to fully realize that for a $1 piece of screen, we are unbelievably free to enjoy a moth free home. God bless you for the excellent information.

     
    Reply
    • Tech Support says

      October 2, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Glenn,

      Thank you for the kind feedback. We are always happy to hear when our information helps someone. I probably hear from 5-10 people every year who relate similar stories. In virtually all cases, traps are the real “cause” and once removed, the local moth activity slows and stops as you described.

      Please keep our site bookmarked for future reference. Our informative articles include helpful tips that can often mean the difference between pest elimination vs ongoing “problems”.

      Jonathan
      U-Spray Bugspray
      http://www.bugspray.com
      1-800-877-7290

      PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: http://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html

       
      Reply
  3. Celia says

    October 6, 2018 at 8:44 pm

    Hi!
    So I’ve been dealing with the problem of pantry moths for a year now. I think anyone who’s had a moth problem would say it’s anyones worst nightmare and it always feels never ending. We’re a pretty large family in a large house I’ve spent thousands of dollars between all the food thrown away the exterminators and the cleaning crews I’ve hired more than several times.

    Just as summer was approaching I started to see some pantry moths and wouldn’t you know I started to set up traps and than more traps until I had them set up in every room. I was researching daily how to get rid of them. Nothing worked until one night I came across bugspray.com where I read that if you’ve tried everything and you still have moths after 2 months, it’s the traps.

    I was in total shock. Could this even be true? The next morning I called tech support and he told me to get rid of all traps and that I was actually luring the moths into my house from the outdoors. Immediately I went around the house collecting all traps. There was at least 20 of them and some were really full. I triple bagged them and threw the out and wouldn’t you know just like that I was moth free and have not seem a single one again! Thank god Jonathan, god bless you and the work you do. You gave me back my life and you we’re so kind and helpful on the phone. Thanks again I can’t thank you enough.

     
    Reply

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