The Indian Meal Moth has a wingspan of about 5/8 to 7/8 inch. The forewing is bicolored with the basal half light gray or tan and the distal half reddish-brown. The hindwing is white or pale gray. The larva is white or cream-colored with a yellow to reddish-brown head and grows to 5/8 inch when mature.
This moth is probably common at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods in areas where birdseed or other foodstuffs are stored.
This moth is native to South America, but now occurs worldwide. It is a pest in food stored indoors such as flour, oatmeal, seeds, nuts and birdseed. The larvae spin silk threads as they crawl through the food products. There are several generations a year indoors.
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