Page 15 - Mothmageddon

JONATHAN BERLIAND & GRAHAM WARREN
• WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
They prefer dark and undisturbed places which is why you’ll probably see their damage underneath or behind heavy furniture.
(To find out more about the moths that destroy rugs and carpets, see Chapter 10: Save Your Carpets and Rugs from Moths.)
The Clues That Moths Are Munching Through Your Food
• ADULTS MOTHS IN YOUR KITCHEN
The most obvious sign that food moths have invaded your pantry or food cupboard is an adult pantry moth flying around your kitchen at night (the time they’re most likely to take to the air).
By that time, the pantry moth has moved through the egg, larvae and pupae stages and already fed off your food and contaminated it. The adult in flight is looking for a mate so she can lay eggs to start the entire cycle again.
The moment you spot a food moth flying around, look in your cupboards or pantry for cocoon webbing or worm-like moth larvae. They can often be found in old, dry food packets (like flour, cornmeal, oatmeal, or cereal) but can also be found on the edges of canned food as well as the underside of screw-on lids. They can’t affect canned food, but they can lay eggs along the edges of the tins.
Check around the edges of your pantry or food cupboards for webbing. Also open plastic containers, cereal boxes and packets of flour to see if any adult moths fly out.
• WHAT FOOD DO THEY EAT?
The moth larvae (which is the stage at which the moth eats your food) devours grain, dried fruit and nuts, cereal products, rice, bread, pasta, couscous, spices, flower wreaths with seeds, bird seed, cat biscuits, dog biscuits, chocolate, sweets, dried fruit, and dehydrated vegetables. Moths have also been known to eat cocoa
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