Once you have taken all the precautionary steps, yet still see pantry moths, it may be time to call a professional pest control company to help you eliminate your pantry moth problem.
We will come out, inspect and treat for the adult, flying pantry moths. We want to make sure we treat the areas in the cupboards with a residual spray so that it's long lasting. Our goal is to get them under control, not just eradicate the ones you see. One important thing we do is place pheromone traps.
Empty out the pantry and clean every square inch, including each shelf, with a vinegar/water/tea tree oil solution. If you can remove the shelves, wash and scrub each one thoroughly in the sink with hot water first. Really get into every nook and corner inside the pantry. Anything the moths have touched gets cleaned.
There are a variety of strategies an exterminator can use to get rid of moths. Connect with an Orkin Pro to create an effective moths treatment plan for your home.
The only way to control Indian meal moths is to locate infested materials and clean them out. A thorough cleaning is also needed to get rid of errant caterpillars, cocoons and food sources. No one recommends spraying insecticides in cupboards or food areas because of the risk of illness from eating contaminated food.
The entire cycle takes roughly 4-6 months. So, a successful moth battle is twofold: kill the tiny, voracious larvae eating through your natural fiber textiles, and kill the moths before they mate, lay more eggs and begin the life cycle again.
Starving pantry moths can be difficult, as they can survive without food for several weeks.
Do Bug Bombs Work on Moths? For the most part, yes. The formula used to create most bug bombs and fumigators will work on moths of all kinds as well. The reason for this is the ingredients used within the bug fogger or bomb.
Life Cycle of the Pantry Moth
The average is 4-7 weeks. Usually, the first noticed is the adult, which will only live 1 or 2 weeks without feeding.
Although pantry moths can enter via doors and windows, most infestations probably start when we inadvertently bring home eggs and caterpillars in our dried foods. Kitchens full of unsealed containers and spilled food create an irresistible smorgasbord for female moths looking for the ideal place to lay eggs.
What smells do moths hate? Clothes Moths detest the scent of cedar. They also dislike rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, bergamot, and lavender. Rosemary, thyme, and peppermint oils can be great for keeping Pantry Moths away.
Will moth balls get rid of pantry moths? Only in your cupboard, Mothballs should not be used around food or food preparation areas – so no.
You may want to seek professional help if you have a pantry moth infestation. You can also try purchasing traps and pheromone baits from the grocery store. That's not enough to eliminate the problem, though, unless you follow these steps: Inspect your pantry and toss out any infested food.
At Terminix, moth control is included in our general pest control plans. We also treat other common pests, such as mice, rats, roaches, spiders, and ants. Our pest control service includes a comprehensive interior and exterior inspection and treatment.
Lavender — Lavender is a widely-loved moth repellent for good reason. Its floral scent is delightful to humans but repulsive to moths. Our 'Protect Me' Scent Bags can be placed in closets and drawers to protect your garments. Plus, they impart a lovely fragrance to all surrounding clothes.
As such, airtight storage is recommended. To keep moths out of your pantry goods, it is best to use solid glass or plastic containers with sealable lids. Make sure that all of the lids have an airtight or rubber seal. This will prevent moths from being able to squeeze through.
Most definitely, it does. Does light attract Clothes Moths or Pantry Moths? Not so much. You can use light sources and bug zappers to lure in moths and insects outside at night but inside the home, pestilent insect species often avoid light and take cover in dark, quiet spots.
If you open your pantry one morning to a flutter of wings and find small moths flying around the house, you can be sure of one thing: You have an infestation on your hands. Becoming aware of a pantry moth's presence may or may not be subtle.
Pantry moths love whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Dispose of infested food: If you find any signs of infestation (tiny webs, larvae, or moths), throw out that food immediately.
For an instant kill, cleaning containers using a solution of hot soapy water will instantly kill Pantry Moth Eggs. Additionally, freezing items will kill eggs and larvae, although you must wait 72 hours for this method to be effective.
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.
So will pantry moths or their larvae, eggs and webbing make you sick if you accidentally eat them? The experts say no. So, if you ingest them, don't panic. Indian meal moths are not known to spread any known diseases, parasites or pathogens.
Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.
Finding moth holes in your clothes or baby caterpillars in your pantry is a big bummer. Unfortunately, moths will not go away on their own either.