Indian Meal Moth Control

The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is a common species of pest moth that is often found within properties in the UK; the moth larvae (commonly known as waxworms) are often found attacking cereals, fruits and nuts. Infestations within buildings are usually concentrated in specific areas such as kitchens and food storage areas.

Finding the source of an infestation is generally straightforward; often from our experience Indian meal moths are found in open packaging at the rear of a cupboard; the adult moths can chew through packaging, but this does seem to be rare. Another common place to find this moth is behind kitchen plinths where spilt food can often build up, especially when pets bows are nearby; alternatively, we have seen Indian meal moth infestations connected to rat and mouse activity and their connected food storage which may be under furniture of walls within the vicinity of activity.

Before undertaking any control, we recommend that the user understands the biology and behaviour as this will help in the treatment process; Wikipedia has a page with information on their lifecycle, which can be found here. For detailed treatment advice, we recommend looking at the BPCA website (The leading pest control association in the UK) on the subject which can be found here.

Removal of the initial source will undoubtedly remove and control the issue; using insecticides such as smoke bombs will hasten the process and prevent adults from seeking alternative sources. Insecticide sprays and similar non-toxic alternatives are excellent methods of controlling adult moth populations.

One of the most popular products for moth control is the pheromone pads that release a sex lure to attract the male moth towards a sticky adhesive; this helps breaks the lifecycle by competing with other females local to the area. Pheromone pads are a very useful way to monitor and find localised activity; they can control emerging infestations but are unlikely to impact more significant or established issues.