Pantry & Birdseed Moths

Pantry and Birdseed Moths

Often hitchhiking home with unsuspecting customers from the grocery store, pantry and birdseed moths not only are a nuisance – they also pose a health risk. These tiny moths invade, eat through and lay eggs on stored food or birdseed, leaving no choice but to toss out the infested items.

Finding silk webbing in a stored food product – or worse, moving larvae – is a sign you have an infestation of pantry or birdseed moths.

Geographic Region

Pantry and birdseed moths are found throughout the world and can survive in a wide range of weather conditions.

Natural Habitat

Pantry and birdseed moths prefer to live indoors where human food, pet food or birdseed is stored. Cereals and grains, flour, pasta, dried fruits or herbs, spices, dry pet food or birdseed provide food for the larvae once the female moth lays her eggs.

Weather conditions

Pantry moths are less active during colder weather. Their life cycle slows and the unhatched moths go into a hibernation period during the winter months.

Behavior

Female pantry moths lay eggs directly on the stored food product to provide nourishment for the larvae once they hatch. They leave cocoon-like webs within the food and birdseed.

Unique characteristics

Pantry and birdseed moths are very small, about a half-inch long and brown in color.