Indianmeal Moth

2. Indianmeal Moth   

General Description

• The adult is 7-10 mm long, the basal third of the forewings are gray and the remaining section is reddish-copper. Hind wings are gray with dense pubescence.
• The larva is 10-17 mm long, white (yellowish-greenish-reddish), pinkish-white, and has brown spots on its body.
• The pupa is brown and 11 mm long.

Life Cycle and Common Characteristics

• The larva overwinters inside the stored products.
• Females lay eggs (350 eggs in total) in groups on stored products or beside food.

• The eggs hatch after a few days, and the egg incubation for 3-12 days.
• The larva needs 4-6 weeks to complete its development in the summer and 20 weeks during the winter.
• The fully developed larva weaves a silken cocoon, which turns into pupae inside.
• The pupa phase is 26 days (16°C) or 4 days (31°C).
• The generation period is 3-7 weeks in warm regions.
  • The larvae of the last generation, at the end of autumn, hibernate.
  • There are 6-7 generations per year.

Damage and Economic Implications

• The larva feeds on the stored materials (flour, yellow corn, dried fruits, biscuits, chocolate, dried milk dates) and secretes silky threads surrounded by the materials it fed on.
• The larva pollutes the feeding site with feces and renders the materials unsuitable for consumption.

Life Cycle and Common Characteristics

• The larva overwinters inside the stored products.
• Females lay eggs (350 eggs in total) in groups on stored products or beside food.

• The eggs hatch after a few days, and the egg incubation for 3-12 days.
• The larva needs 4-6 weeks to complete its development in the summer and 20 weeks during the winter.
• The fully developed larva weaves a silken cocoon, which turns into pupae inside.
• The pupa phase is 26 days (16°C) or 4 days (31°C).
• The generation period is 3-7 weeks in warm regions.
  • The larvae of the last generation, at the end of autumn, hibernate.
  • There are 6-7 generations per year.

Damage and Economic Implications

• The larva feeds on the stored materials (flour, yellow corn, dried fruits, biscuits, chocolate, dried milk dates) and secretes silky threads surrounded by the materials it fed on.
• The larva pollutes the feeding site with feces and renders the materials unsuitable for consumption.