Grain moth

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Sitotroga cerealella

The grain moth is one of the main pests in the grain industry. The larvae of the moth damage the grain crop from the inside out and only leave the grain as fully developed adults. However, it not only develops in stored grain, but can also attack grain crops on the stalk and is thus introduced unnoticed into warehouses. The speed of development depends on the temperature and is between 25 days and 4 months. Wingspan of the moth up to 19 mm, forewings clay yellow with black spots. Hind wings unicolored, grey. Caterpillars first yellowish red, then white, up to 6 mm long, cylindrical.

Flour moth

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Ephestia kuehniella

The flour moth mainly attacks flour and milled products. It also attacks rice, maize, millet, buckwheat, dough and bakery products, soy flour, nuts, dried fruit, dried mushrooms and chocolate seeds. They are found all over the world and their adaptability means that they can survive and reproduce even in very cramped conditions, e.g. in sealed flour bags. This makes them not only a nasty pest in the processing industry, but also in private households. Flour moths can be recognised by the typical webs they weave around their food source. Approx. 10 – 14 mm long, forewings blue-grey to reddish-grey, wingspan 22 mm. Lays approx. 200 eggs between grains. Caterpillars greenish to reddish white, up to 20 mm long

Indian meal moth

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umgs. Food moth
Plodia interpunktella

The dried fruit moth is the most important pest in the food processing industry worldwide. Complaints, take-back campaigns and losses are the result. It attacks dried fruit, nuts of all kinds, chocolate, cereals, cereal products, seeds, dried herbs and insect collections. As it attacks all plant-based foods, it is also known colloquially as the “food moth”. Even in private households, no pest is as widespread as this moth. A special feature is the pattern of the front wings, which are light gray to ocher yellow near the body, the rest of the outer part of the wing is reddish brown to red, delimited by blue transverse lines. The hind wings, on the other hand, are light gray. Wingspan 20 mm. Lays about 500 eggs, caterpillars white, light pink or greenish yellow and greasy shiny, up to 13 mm long. Spider webs permeate the entire substrate; depending on conditions, several generations per year are possible.

Clothes moth

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Tineola Bisselliella

The clothes moth is 4-9 mm long. The forewings are shiny yellow, the hindwings somewhat lighter with a wingspan of 14 mm. Females lay 100-200 eggs individually on various fabrics. The caterpillars hatch after approx. 14 days, the development period to butterfly is approx. 3 months at room temperature. In heated rooms 3-4 generations per year, in unheated rooms 2 generations. The 15 cm long tubes are typical. The mostly dirty yellow-white caterpillars of the clothes moth cause pitting and bald patches on woolen fabrics, furs, upholstery, carpets, etc. Wool fibers, textiles and furs that have not been worn for a long time are mainly infested. Fur moth : Insects that live on and damage furs and wool textiles in a similar way to clothes moths. They also cause the same damage.

Storage moth

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Ephestia elutella

The storage moth causes similar damage to the grain moth. It is the main pest of the confectionery industry. The list of substrates it attacks is long and varied. In addition to sweets and chocolate products, it attacks dried fruit, cocoa beans, nuts, seeds, various seeds, cereals and other milled products, rice, long-life baked goods, green coffee, medicinal herbs, tobacco and tobacco products. Also insect collections, herbaria and woolen fabrics. The main places of infestation are warehouses, storage facilities, food factories and mills. Wingspan of the moth 18 mm. Forewings lead gray with wavy dark transverse bands. Hind wings unicolored, lighter. About 300 eggs. Reddish, greenish or white, up to 20 mm long caterpillars often sit in webbed tubes. Pupation in hiding places, cracks, sacks, etc. outside the sewing substrate. 3-4 generations per year.