Rice Weevil Confused Flour Beetle Flour Mite Drugstore Beetle Indian Meal Moth Grain Beetle |
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Indian meal moths can take from 25-135 days for moths egg-egg development cycle to occur. One moth can lay 100-400 eggs over 1-18 day period. Almost anything in your pantry that is not in a "tin can" is suspect. All insect life cycles are dependent on temperature and environmental conditions, but in the summer months (65+° F, 18+°C) this moth will take 5 to 7 weeks to
develop.
Eggs: are microscopic. Female adults lay 350-500 eggs during their short lifetime.
Larvae: Larvae size: is 1/2", a dirty white-off white color, it can have green or pink hues. Usually feed in protected areas such as the ears on a bag or in cracks and crevices. This is the damaging stage. The larvae can chew through bags of food and seed. The larvae is what does the damage-feeding on these different food items, forming an extensive web type of substance over the food items that they infest.
Pupa: This quiescent stage can be seen covered in a silken cocoon. No damage occurs during this stage.(
also see: Post_Treatment_Tips)