Pantry moths are harmless and don't bite, but they can infiltrate food items that are not sealed airtight. An infestation of pantry moths requires throwing away affected items, cleaning up, and securing other food items. It can take up to a month to get rid of pantry moths by disrupting their lifecycle.
Both freezing and heating will kill Indian meal moth larvae. Effective freezing methods include keeping the contaminated item for four to seven days in the freezer.
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.
Many find it easier and more effective to hire ApolloX Pest Control, the professional pantry moth exterminator. ApolloX Pest Control will also check your home for the presence of other pests. Once the moths are professionally exterminated, it's much easier to maintain a moth-free pantry.
Life Cycle of the Pantry Moth
Moths follow the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life cycle may be completed in as little as 30 days or as long as 300 days, depending on food availability and temperature. The warmer the temperature, the faster the cycle completes. The average is 4-7 weeks.
Pantry moths are harmless and don't bite, but they can infiltrate food items that are not sealed airtight. An infestation of pantry moths requires throwing away affected items, cleaning up, and securing other food items. It can take up to a month to get rid of pantry moths by disrupting their lifecycle.
Place infested items in the freezer for a week to kill pantry moth larvae and eggs. Place all new food items into glass or plastic containers in case lingering moths exist. Pheromone traps may be used to monitor the population and capture male moths. Plain yellow sticky traps may also be helpful.
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.
Look at each item for moths (alive or dead), larvae (tiny worms), eggs (which look like clumps of grain), or webbing that the worms spin. Keep in mind that because the larvae can chew through plastic bags and cardboard, even some unopened packages may be infected.
As soon as the protective paper is removed your traps will be active and ready to capture adult male Pantry Moths for 2 months.
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.
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.
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.
In the quest to uncover pantry moths' preferred hideouts, the spaces behind kitchen appliances—like refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers—emerge as prime locations. These appliances, especially those seldom moved or cleaned behind, provide a secluded environment for pantry moths to thrive.
PESTXPERT PANTRY MOTH PRODUCTS
Pro-Spray Flying aerosol is great to have on hand to spray any moths seen flying around the house.
Inspect your pantry and toss out any infested food. The National Pest Control Center advises that the items most at risk of infestation include cereal, grains, beans, nuts, flour, dried fruit, birdseed, animal food, spices, tea, chocolate, and candy.
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.
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.
Remove all food items from your cupboards and drawers, and deep clean the shelves, walls, and crevices. Then, you can position Pantry Moth Traps to catch any adult male moths which will help break the breeding cycle and give you an indication of the size of your infestation.
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. Plastic zipper bags can also be used for food storage.
Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.
Starving pantry moths can be difficult, as they can survive without food for several weeks.
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.
Vinegar is an effective killer of moths, eggs, and larvae.