Best Home Remedies to Get Rid of Pantry Moths

The pantry being infected with Indian meal moths is a common problem. The eggs of the pantry moths come into the home in food bundles. Eventually, they’re able to hatch into larvae which turn into adults. Indian meal moth eggs are present in:

• Birdseed
• Cereals and grains
• Flours and meals
• Dried fruit
• Pasta
• Steak
• Pet meals
• Dried herbs
• Nuts
• Powdered milk

What Are Pantry Moths?

Pantry moths are commonly referred to as Indian meal moth, one of the most frequent one of the “pantry pests.” All these moths can infect boxes or bags of bread, grains, dried beans, seeds, baking soda, pet food, teas, nuts, cereals, cake mixes, rice, nuts, dried fruit, bird seed, spices, herbs, potpourri mixes, as well as wreaths which may contain nuts, fruits and more.

As per experts many of these ‘harm’ the saved products which happen when the larvae are spun. This further leads to the formation of enormous amounts of silk which collect mosquito pellets, cast skins, and egg cubes in food items. This further damages the food in its natural state.

Where Do Pantry Moths Come From?

Though you might want to do some severe cupboard-cleaning, do not blame the poor housekeeping service if the area becomes infected. Meal moths laid those eggs in the food store or at the bins in a center. This increases the possibility of food being damaged.

Post-mating, the female Indian meal moth of about half an inch discovers the right atmosphere for placing her eggs which can range to 400 at a time. After the hatching of eggs, the larvae feeds and takes a long time of about several weeks before turning a cocoon (pupa). After the pupa formation, the adult moth finally takes time to grow. Based on other aspects, food supply, and temperature, the lifespan of meal moths usually ranges from 10 months to even longer.

Are Pantry Moths Harmful?

This insect doesn’t induce disease, even when you accidentally cook and consume a couple of larvae. Also, it does not move along your edibles. This further lowers your chances of the moths getting onto your furniture and damaging them. It feeds on the same food that humans consume. It can be tough to eliminate the pantry moths, especially if they have finished their lifespan and developed into fully grown adults.

How to Find Pantry Moths?

Larvae in Food:

If the eggs hatch, the larvae will spin webs on the food that is infected. You will observe the tiny whitish along with webbing worms’ clumps. They begin quite small but can develop to a ⅔ inch long with black or brownish heads. If the color of them wears off a little, they can become traceable.

Larvae at Home:

Start looking for the creatures running frequently or moving around. The Indian meal moths are always on a quest to find a place that is wonderful for them to turn into pupate. In this place, they finally become moths.

Cocoons:

You could observe the cocoons in corners of the houses regular.

Flying Moths:

You will get to see the half-inch long moths flying around lights at night, typically around your pantry and kitchen time.

How to Control Pantry Moths?

1. First of all, you should try and collect all the products that you think have been infected by the moths. If you don’t anticipate taking the garbage out straight away, do not just throw them in the trash. You may dig up space a little away from your house out of the reach of people and then bury the infected food.
2. Do not wait for any trash picker to come up to your door, collect all your garbage and dispose of. Instead, take measures and do it on your own.
3. Subsequently, remove everything out of the cabinets and other places for storing foods, such as cans or even glass jars. Wash and vacuum all surfaces. Eliminate and use new jars and so on. Use a flashlight to pay attention to the place beneath the shelves and other places where chances are high. You should also check for the holes and cracks.
4. Meal-moth larvae possess legs and frequently tend to move away from their original place. You might locate pupae and larvae spun webs on doorknobs, and corners beneath shelves; on wire baskets, and the borders of items, cans, along with jar lids saved in your cabinet or cabinet.
5. The larvae can engulf the plastic and paper. If you are inclined to keep a range of fruits, nuts, and grains stored in heavy storage containers and in paper or plastic bags, check each luggage for openings or holes which might allow entrance of meal-moth creatures, or even for holes that may have been created or chewed on by the larvae.
6. When you are confused, you can put the doubtful contaminated food, in the freezer for a long time. This will kill all the small larvae or eggs.
7. Now, one efficient solution to get rid of the pantry moth is to store the food in glass containers, the very right moment when you get these stores in your home. If there is an item infected, the larvae will not have the ability to escape the tank.
8. Store the spices in small bags or containers within the fridge or freezer.
9. Keep birdseed and pet foods in covered containers of metals at a laundry area, garage or out discard.
10. You should keep the seed and fruits outside your home. Buy or create wreaths of branches or twigs which don’t include edibles.
11. Another efficient remedy to get rid of the moths is to set up a trap for them (broadly available on the web and in furniture, backyard, and home-supply shops). These traps stop a future infestation and monitor the existence of pantry moths. The working of the moth traps is to stop the moths from growing. These subsequently get stuck to adhesive boards, which prevent them from fertilizing female pantry moths. As a result, they die.

Home Remedies to Eliminate Pantry Moths

It would help if you followed the home remedies to get rid of pantry moths. A number of those remedies that are prominent needs to be followed with proper guidance.

• Dispose of the food that is infected

Reduce your pantry shelves by throwing any infected or infested food when you observe them in the house. Eliminate any food that’s kept such as flour and cereal in the open. There are chances of eggs or moths hiding there. Larvae are often discovered in jar lids’ grooves. When in doubt, throw it out and use a garbage bag that is sealed.

• Vacuum the area

Vacuum the floor, shelves and other areas to remove these moths. Replace your vacuum cleaner bag getting rid of these moths from time to time.

• Wash shelves and the cabinets

Wash all shelves and cabinets which you used to store the food. Also, ensure cleaning up the pantry. Use dish soap and hot water together with a bit of bleach. This may help you to get rid of any pantry moth eggs which vacuuming could have missed.

• Distribute the repellents

Use herbs that are natural. Lay bay leaves or lemon peels on the shelves in food cupboard or your pantry. You may sprinkle black peppermint too to remove the moths. These ingredients stop them and repel pantry moths.

• Wash the shelf containers

Wash cans or any jars you’re putting back in the pantry in warm water before using them. When restocking your cupboard seal the food jars with metal grip and a rubber band. You can even use plastic containers. To prevent pantry moths from spoiling the food, bags won’t be sufficient. It is better if you use the containers.

• Get yourself a DIY trap

Set up a trap. This will draw on any moths towards itself and prevent any kind of infection. Absence or the existence of moths on your trap is also a sign of infection around the house. You know that you’ve got rid of the moth if you’ve caught a few initially and then none.

• Safely Eliminate Trash

Eliminate your garbage in a site that is suitable.

What Chemicals Can Kill the Pantry Moths?

When you’ve conducted your moth examination, before putting food items back on freshly cleaned shelves, it is better to check and spray some repellants before actually using the space again. This can help stop moths from infesting meals in the future.

Put injector hint of product to cracks, crevices, and voids in which Meal moths or other insects might be living. Ensure to keep cleaning the service as required. This item can leave a lot of signs.

Some Traps to Eliminate pantry moths

Terro Pantry Moth Traps

It is a moth trap which kills them and attracts moths. It includes pheromone lure that brings those moths that damage your food. Eventually, the moths expire after being trapped there.

Safer Pantry Moth Trap

Much like Terro, sager Pantry moth traps is an effective trap. The trap’s pack provides economical and convenient control alternative for moths flying around the pantry. This trap features protection of 400 feet. Each lure functions up to 3 weeks.

Pro-Pest Pantry Moth Traps

The Pro-Pest Pantry Moth Traps are the most effective ones. It catches Pantry, Flour, and Birdseed moths and attracts them to itself. It pesticide free and continues up to 2 weeks to use.

Is Professional Treatment Required for Getting Rid of Pantry Moths?

Professional treatment isn’t required for Indianmeal moth control. This is only because insecticides shouldn’t be utilized in or about foods if they’re not washed out, and spraying of emptied regions will probably do little. Spraying insecticides on your food can prove to be very damageable for your food.

If you decide to use an insecticide, utilize only after an expert has recommended to do so and use in these cracks and fractures. Pesticides can’t ever be applied to surfaces or foods and utensils. Read and follow all label instructions before moving on to use them.

DIY Traps for Pantry Moths

One of the best home remedies to get rid of moth traps is to set up traps. These traps can be easily prepared at home. With proper materials, you can prepare these as per your requirement. As mentioned above, these moths are easily lured to the traps owing to the smell of sticky dashboard. You can easily prepare a trap by taking some sticky substance and food. You should ensure to put these foods onto the trap you have prepared. Once these moths get lured in by the smell, they would come to fetch upon the foods. They would eventually get stuck on the sticky material once they fly upon the food.

Another trap that you can prepare for getting rid of the pantry moth is to put the infected or contaminated food in too hot or too cold temperature. Extreme temperature conditions can lead to the easy destruction of these moths. Experts have often recommended that either to boil the food or to store it in a refrigerator for about one day to one week.

Another very much effective way of getting rid of the pantry moths completely is to store your food in separate bags. This will help you analyze the problem. Although you may not be able to detect the problem quickly, you can easily detect the problem if they have been separated into parts. This will also help to save the food which has not been contaminated. However, keeping your food locked in the plastic zip bags for too long can also lead to the staling of the food. Nonetheless, you should refrain from keeping the food on the bags for too long. There are chances that some fly may sit on to your food.

Can mothballs help to get rid of pantry moths?

If you have been trying to protect your clothes from pantry moth, you should place the mothballs in your cupboard. These mothballs are the most effective in the cupboard area. You should prefer keeping the mothballs away from the food or food preparation areas in order to ensure your safety.

Can cedar help in getting rid of pantry moths?

Although cedar is considered to be one of the most beneficial home remedies to get rid of moths, it certainly cannot act much upon the pantry moths. This is because its effect upon the pantry moths is very much limited. It will be able to drive the pantry moth away only if the woods are fresh. Nonetheless, cedar can also prove to be extremely helpful if it is cleared down from time to time using a sand fiber. This will allow fresh fibers to come out and prevent the pantry moths.

The cedar woods do not contain harmful chemicals and thus, prevent the moths and pests. Its odor and mustiness allow the absorbed moisture to be spread in the atmosphere thereby helping to prevent the moths.

Even if pantry moths do not bear much harm to the overall health, it is better to avoid them. This is because they contaminate food and water which can further harm our health. We may fall victim to several water-borne and food diseases. Trying to get rid of them becomes even more necessary if your kids in your home. You should make sure to follow the right home remedies to get rid of pantry moths.

Read More Articles:

Best Repellents to Keep Pantry Moths Away (2018)

Pantry Moths: Everything You Need to Know (2018)