Flying pests
Pantry moths
- Leave the property
- During treatment
- Pantry stays empty
- 3 to 4 hours, and until dry
No entry until it's dry. Drying takes 3–4 hours or longer, so don't go back into a treated area until it's dry, even if the time on this page has passed.
Get your home ready
Before we arrive
What we do on the day
- We look for the source packet. There is almost always one.
- The whole pantry is sprayed, into every crack and crevice, as a light mist.
- We don't overdo it. There's enough to reach every section, but not so much that it runs, stains or damages your walls and shelving.
- Nothing is flooded onto the shelf surfaces that your food goes back onto.
After treatment
- Do not wipe treated surfaces
- Leave pantry empty for 3 to 4 hours, and until dry
Common questions
How do pantry moths start?
Often introduced through packaged foods.
Do I need to throw away all food?
Only affected or open products.
Can they come back?
Yes if contaminated food is reintroduced.
Do the moths I see flying around eat my food?
No. The adult moths are short lived and don't feed. It's the caterpillars that eat the food.
Can I put the food back in the packets it came in?
Food goes back once the pantry is dry, and it goes back into sealed containers, not opened packets.
Signs you've got pantry moths
- Silk webbing through your food and in the corners of the shelves. The larvae spin silk as they tunnel through food.
- Food with silk, droppings, shed skins, pupal cases and dead moths in it.
- Caterpillars wandering away from the food. Fully grown ones go looking for somewhere to pupate, which is when they become obvious.
- Moths in the kitchen, most active around dusk or dawn.
Where pantry moths hide, and what draws them in
Where they hide
- In the food itself: flour, rice, cereal, pasta, dried fruit, pet food and birdseed.
- In the corners and lips of the shelves, where the webbing gathers.
What draws them in
- Stored grains such as oats, barley, rice, maize and wheat.
- Milled products such as flour, and nuts, spices, peas, beans and lentils.
- Whole grains. The larvae prefer the germ and bran layers.
Keep them away
- Store dry foods in sealed containers
- Inspect grains regularly
- Avoid storing old or out of date food
What happens next
Booking the treatment
Pantry moths live in the food, so the treatment goes with a clear-out of the cupboard. Ring us and describe what you're seeing, and we'll tell you what it needs.
Still have a question?
Call us and we'll help. If you're still seeing activity after the times on this page, let us know.