Food moths & pantry pests

**Food Moth Control Advice And Information** Pest Control Products UK Food Moth Control Advice Species: (Family Pyralidae ) Indian Meal Moth Plodia ...

Agrothrin 2 x 100g Puffer Pack 100% natural active insecticide Agrothrin's active ingredients are pyrethrins, which are derived from African chrysanthemums. Sold in packs of two x 100g dusting tubs for convenient and easy use.... Our price: £10.06 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Easy-fit door fly screen Fine-meshed screen is a discreet, but effective barrier: Keeps out moths, mosquitoes, midges, and other biting flies. The screen allows air to circulate freely, making it ideal for use in porches,... Our price: £8.81 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Easy-Fit Window Fly Screen Fine-meshed screen is a discreet, but effective barrier: Keeps out moths, mosquitoes, midges, and other biting flies. The screen allows air to circulate freely, making it ideal for use in porches,... Our price: £7.23 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fortefog Mini Fumer, 20 pack Powerful and easy to use do it yourself fumigation for effective control of crawling and flying insects such as fleas, bedbugs, ants, cockroaches, stored product insects, and flying insects such as... Our price: £61.69 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fortefog P Mini Fumer, 10 pack Powerful and easy to use DIY fumigation for effective control of crawling and flying insects such as fleas, bedbugs, ants, cockroaches, stored product insects, and flying insects such as houseflies,... Our price: £41.83 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fortefog P Mini Fumer, 3 pack Powerful and easy to use DIY home fumigation for effective control of crawling and flying insects such as fleas, bedbugs, ants, cockroaches, stored product insects, and flying insects such as... Our price: £14.98 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fortefog P Mini Fumer, 5 pack Fumigate rooms and enclosed spaces yourself, safely and easily... Fortefog P kills flying and crawling insects in difficult to reach places. Containing 13.5% Permethrin. For the control of flies,... Our price: £20.92 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fortefog Space and Surface Spray, 2 pack Organic, water based aerosol insect spray, safe for use in homes and public spaces, but deadly to insect pests Approved for use in kitchens and food preparation areas. As a space spray, a 2-3 second... Our price: £18.19 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Indian Meal (Food) Moth Pheromone traps x10 Monitor food moth infestations and catch moths with this pheromone trap Traps should be placed close to moth activity, such as in cupboards, pantries and under furniture and kitchen work areas. A... Our price: £16.31 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Indian Meal (Food) Moth Refills x10 Replacement sticky pads with integral pheromone attractant for Ephestia and Plodia moth species Slimline AF traps should be placed in narrow gaps close to moth activity, such as cupboards, pantries... Our price: £8.99 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Insect-a-Clear COMPACT Electric Fly Killer, 15W Protects areas against flying insects for up 50 sq metres. Stainless Steel unit, includes 15W shatter resistant UV tube. Can be wall mounted, suspended or free standing. The Insect-a-clear COMPACT... Our price: £91.65 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

OA2KI Organic Insect killer concentrate New, Organic Insect Control Agent Oa2ki is based entirely on concentrated natural plant extracts of food grade quality, and very safe to humans and other mammals. Pesticide free, functioning solely... Our price: £41.07 Out of stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Oa2ki Organic Insect Killer Spray x2 Based entirely on concentrated natural plant extracts of food grade quality ... and very safe to humans and other mammals. Pesticide free, functioning solely by physical means and quite different to... Our price: £15.22 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pressure Sprayer 2 Litre Applies a smooth, even spray This has a simple and very effective hand-pumped pressure mechanism. Ideal for applying Protector C, PX Ornikill (bird-related pest destroyer and disinfectant) or diluted... Our price: £12.33 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pressure sprayer 5 Litre Apply Liquid Insecticides Like a Pro! This hand-pumped pressure sprayer gives a smooth, even spray to cover wide areas. Ideal for applying liquid insecticides such as Protector C, diluted Oa2ki... Our price: £31.43 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pro-Rid glue boards, pack of 20 Professional quality glue traps for rodents and insects (6 pack pictured) Highly effective attraction and trapping, but with no risk to the environment. Glue traps are professional products, and must... Our price: £17.63 Out of stock

ProControl Flying Insect Killer - pack of 2 sprays Professional aerosol spray, knocks down flying insects fast Targets flying insects including flies, flying ants, wasps, mosquitoes and moths. Professional grade aerosol insecticide, now available for... Our price: £11.28 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Protector C 1 litre Trigger Spray Trigger spray with safe and naturally-derived active ingredient Cypermethrin Deadly to a wide range of insects, but harmless to mammals and humans, with no staining or smell once dry. Trigger spray... Our price: £14.08 In stock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Species: (Family Pyralidae)
Indian Meal Moths Plodia interpunctella (Dried Fruit Moth)
Warehouse Moths Ephestia elatella (Cacao Moth, Tobacco Moth)
Tropical Warehouse Moths Ephestia cautella (Dried Currant Moth)
Mediterranean Flour Moths Ephestia kuehniella (Mill Moth/Flour Moth)

Food moths can be found in a variety of stored products. These species are largely associated with goods of vegetable origin, to which they may be adapted with varying degrees of specificity.

Indian Meal Moth (pictured): The most common food moths in the UK, the Indian Meal Moth is a cosmopolitan species originating in South America, that will survive all year ‘round in warm conditions. Food moths will attack dried fruit, cereals, oil seeds and shelled nuts. The larval webbing of food moths may occasionally reach problem proportions.

Wingspan is 10-15mm. The inner third of the upper forewing is a pale yellowish buff; the remainder of the wing is bronze-coloured.

Females produce up to 500 greyish-white eggs, which hatch in 1-18 days depending on conditions. The larvae of food moths migrate over the foodstuff, covering it with silk as they move. Fully-grown larvae are 12mm long. Food and environmental conditions have a strong influence on the larval phase, so that development may take 13-288 days. When mature the larvae of food moths leave the foodstuff and spin thick white cocoons, in which the 7mm long pupae develop. After a pupation period of 12-43 days, the adults emerge, although this species may spend winter as larvae in a silken cocoon.

Warehouse Moth: 12 mm wingspan; upper forewing: well-defined, rather sinuate outer band on grey-buff background. These food moths are widely distributed throughout temperate regions, it is rarely imported except on products from other temperate areas. Food moths are a major pest of warehouses and retail premises, this species will infest cereals, fruit, shelled nuts, cocoa beans, fish, spices and tobacco. Infestations are especially serious where wheat and flour are stored in bulk.

Tropical Warehouse Moth: 12-18mm wingspan; upper forewing: dull grey-brown; straight, dark inner band has broad, pale band along inner edge; outer band is obscure. A tropical or subtropical species frequently found on imported cargoes. These food moths are a particular problem in dried fruit and nuts, although this moth will attack cereals, oil seeds and chocolate products. 

Mediterranean Flour Moth: 20-25mm wingspan; upper forewing: oblique, irregular inner band spotted or streaked. No pale band along inner edge as with Tropical Warehouse Moth. Originating in Central America but now cosmopolitan. These food moths are a particular problem in provender mills, bakeries and occasionally even in catering premises, one generation is usually produced but in warm conditions adults will be present throughout the year when there may be 4-6 generations

Food moth biology

Food moths have two pairs of well-developed membranous wings, with few cross veins; clothed with broad scales; generally suctorial mouthparts; metamorphosis proceeds from egg through larval, pupal and adult stages; larvae frequently have eight pairs of limbs.

Control of Food Moths:

Treatment and Control: Method and timing of control measures against moths depends upon the species involved. The larvae of food moths are frequently difficult to reach because they are concealed in foodstuffs or the fabric of buildings and may be obvious only when they migrate.

Hygiene and management: This is important to avoid conditions suitable for the development of moth infestation. Cracks and crevices, which might serve as harbourages for food moths should be kept to a minimum.

Spillages should be removed promptly, and infested goods dealt with immediately. Uncontaminated products should not be stored in the vicinity of infested materials to avoid the spread of food moths.

Monitor traps: Monitor Traps with pheromone attractants are recommended for these species of food moths. The traps should be placed in storage areas or near products at risk throughout the year, and are an excellent means of monitoring infestations. For small, domestic infestations, these traps may be effective as control measures against food moths, as they remove adult males from the breeding cycle.

To use monitor traps to tackle food moths remove the protective paper and place the sticky pad, which includes an integral pheromone attractant, in the lower tray of the trap. One trap should be sufficient to monitor a single confined space such as a larder or cupboard. Where larger areas need to be monitored, a minimum of one trap per 10m2 should be used. AF traps may be reused with replacement sticky pads, which should be replaced every six weeks.

Insecticide sprays: In order to obtain the best results, insecticidal control measures should be integrated with good hygiene practices when tackling food moths.

Fortefog aerosol is a natural and organically derived pyrethrum-based flying insect spray, which is classified as safe for use in food preparation areas and therefore ideal for use against food pests. Oa2ki is an organic trigger spray product, which is also highly effective against both flying and crawling insects such as food moths but contains no toxic chemicals at all.

Smoke generators: Fortefog P Mini Fumers are an excellent domestic DIY fumigation method against a wide range of flying and crawling insects like food moths, which is based on natural pyrethrum. They offer a very useful alternative for treating enclosed areas such as loft voids, large cupboards and small rooms. Foodstuffs should be removed from the area to be treated before use, and surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned before foodstuffs are replaced.