What Pantry Moths Eat
This is where things get interesting.
Pantry moths can infest many common dry foods, including:
- Flour
- Rice
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Cornmeal
- Baking mixes
- Crackers
- Bread and breadcrumbs
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Dried fruit
- Spices
- Pet food
- Birdseed
- Chocolate
- Powdered foods
- Other dry packaged goods
That forgotten bag of flour in the back of the cupboard?
Check it.
The half-used bag of rice?
Check that too.
And don’t forget pet food or birdseed if you keep those indoors.
What You’ll Need
You don’t need a cupboard full of specialty pest-control products.
For a thorough pantry cleanout, gather:
- Large trash bags
- A vacuum cleaner with a crevice attachment
- Warm soapy water
- Clean cloths or paper towels
- A bucket
- Airtight food-storage containers
- A pantry moth pheromone trap for monitoring adult moth activity
- A flashlight
Optional:
- A toothbrush or small cleaning brush for shelf corners
- Labels and a marker for dating containers
The vacuum is especially important because eggs, larvae, and pupae can hide in tiny cracks and crevices.
