| Additional Information on Indian Meal Moths | |
| Life Cycle | The typical life cycle can be from 27 to 305 days. After mating, a single female can lay up to 400 eggs. Mating and egg-laying take place three days following adult emergence.
The eggs are oviposited directly on the larval food supply and can be placed individually or in groups. In three to eight days, the eggs will hatch. The larvae begin to spread shortly after hatching and can establish themselves in a food source within a few hours. In six to eight weeks, the larvae will have completed their development. Depending on the food supply and temperature, the number of larval instars ranges from five to seven. The pupal stage can last anywhere from seven to 20 days. |
| Habitat | The Indian Meal moth may be found in tropical environments on every continent except Antarctica. In the U.S, the moth is most often seen in Florida, where it flourishes in the tropical climate.
The moth can survive in a variety of environments, making it a persistent nuisance. It’s common in food storage facilities, especially grain bins and grain storage structures. |
| Food Source | Indian Meal moths consume plants, grains, and other human food items. Plant-based dry pet food, cereal, birdseed, soup mixes, rice, bread, pasta, flour, dried fruits, spices, and nuts are all favorites. Almonds, sultanas, and yellow maize are among their favorite foods.
Groundnuts and maize meal, on the other hand, cause the moths to take longer to mature. Indian Meal moths have also been reported to eat larvae. |
