Indianmeal Moth

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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.

         

        Credit: Mvuijlst

        Credit: Pudding4brains

         

        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.