Indianmeal Moth
Plodia interpunctella
This record describes Plodia interpunctella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Plodia interpunctella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plodia interpunctella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Plodia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This pyralid moth is a cosmopolitan pest species sometimes found in food warehouses.
Seasonal Activity
The adults emerge throughout June to early September. In heated warehouses, this may be in overlapping broods and may continue through the autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on cereals, grains, dried fruits, nuts and dried insect remains. It spins a silken web amongst the foodstuff.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Scattered records from around Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plodia interpunctella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Indianmeal Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Indianmeal Moth
How big is Indianmeal Moth?
5mm to 9mm (0.19" to 0.35")
Where is Indianmeal Moth found?
Habitat: This pyralid moth is a cosmopolitan pest species sometimes found in food warehouses.
When is Indianmeal Moth active?
Indianmeal Moth: seasonal activity - The adults emerge throughout June to early September. In heated warehouses, this may be in overlapping broods and may continue through the autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Indianmeal Moth?
The larvae feed on cereals, grains, dried fruits, nuts and dried insect remains. It spins a silken web amongst the foodstuff.