Q&A for How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths

When vacuuming and scrubbing out the shelves, pay special attention to the corners. People can sometimes miss the corners at the front of the cabinet where shelves meet the cabinet face since you have to stick your head inside the cabinet to see them. Insects are most likely in a corner, so this is a big mistake!

Don't worry if you have accidentally consumed any eggs or larvae. Pantry moths don't spread any diseases or parasites, but they are unpleasant to find in your food. These pests aren't a health issue, but they do cause the spoilage and wastage of food.

Bird seed is a very likely source. It's not manufactured or stored in as sanitary conditions as human foodstuffs.

Moth balls are toxic and shouldn't be used in areas with food. Clean your pantry out thoroughly instead.

It is not unusual to open packages to check and find larva or adults in packages. They seem to like cardboard and paper in general. Larva can be found in unopened wax paper packaging, plastic sealed containers, etc. Check it all. They can also lay eggs on the lip of jars, so be thorough.

A small jar of water in the pantry will catch moths and drown the eggs.

If you see a pantry moth, it's likely that there are many more moths and their eggs which you haven't spotted. Each female moth can lay up to 650 eggs in their life cycle. It should take you only around 2-3 hours to thoroughly clean out your pantry, and to discard any contaminated food. Call a professional if you continue getting pantry moth infestations.

If they are infested, it is recommended that you replace them.

Sometimes there would be little cream colored 'crumbs' sitting at the bottom of the food item. It could be popcorn kernels, rice, dried foods, etc. These are eggs. Your dog probably wouldn't care about eating a few though.

Yes, it can because the eggs hatch and grow to an adult and they then lay more eggs.

Store your rice in containers that can be sealed completely.

Unfortunately, the eggs can survive unhatched for up to 300 days. Check previously infested areas at least twice a day, and remember to replace glue traps every couple of months, even if you haven't seen activity. If you don't see anything after 301 days, consider yourself moth-free.

Moth balls shouldn't be used around food or food storage containers. Clean out your food cupboards thoroughly instead.

Meal moths infest food, and wool moths infest clothing. They need to be dealt with differently.

Ziploc bags do not keep out the moths. These crafty creatures can get in there. You need vacuum-sealed containers.

There shouldn't be a smell. Maybe it was something else you put in there. As the article said, wash it out thoroughly.

Clean out your cupboard with a warm water, vinegar, and peppermint oil solution. This should neutralise the smell.

Sanitation is key. Also, discarding the infested products will insure you have taken care of the problem.

You can try using cedar wood, but it won't be as effective as thoroughly cleaning out your pantry and contaminated food.

Use a search engine, or contact your local exterminator to identify the species.

This won't eliminate the larvae, but it will stop the moths from spreading either to or from that container.

Most of these items can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Put them in the appropriate plastic storage bags (double bag if desired) or airtight plastic containers to prevent moisture and odors from penetrating them.

Yes, but only freeze food that doesn't show infestation. Leave your food in the freezer for a week -- this should kill all the larvae.

A lot of times, an infestation starts with a purchase of something that contains larvae of the moths.

Chances are moths have laid eggs outside your pantry in corners and crevices around the house. You can purchase a self-applied insect surface spray pack from a hardware shop or call a professional . A strong bleach solution in a cheap garden sprayer will also work. Either way, you need to spray all corners and nooks and crannies around your house, and don't forget to remove all drawers and spray both underneath them and inside the drawer cabinets.

While not a pleasant thought, moths, grubs and larva are soon killed and broken down by stomach acid, and are unlikely to do any harm. In reality, they probably are quite nutritious.

If the weather is bad or not the ideal temperature, they could seek shelter in a home, just like animals and people do.

Apparently so. I put my screw top container of bird pellets in the freezer after discovering adult moths. I have since taken it out of the freezer and left it out, and I have seen no more moths in the container.

You must have eggs hatching in areas that have not been reached. Check under drawers and inside cabinets, and keep applying a strong bleach solution and an insecticide surface spray or citronella oil. Set new sticky moth traps every two months. Hopefully the traps will eventually catch the moths before they get a chance to keep hatching, but missed eggs can keep hatching for up to about ten months.

Pantry moths aren't harmful to birds, but it will cause the bird food to spoil and for the nutritional content to be reduced.