How to Get Rid of Grain Moths

Grain moths are simply small moths that lay their eggs in common food products. Although it's common to find them in flour, they can also lay their eggs on flowers, pet food, dried fruits, cereal, baking mixes, spices, nuts and pasta. Getting rid of grain moths takes a few steps, but it is very easy to do. Grain moth is a rather general term for this type of insect--they are also known as Indian meal moths and Mediterranean flour moths.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum
  • Zip-top bags
  • Plastic containers
  • Cypermethrin spray
  • Freezer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the source of the infestation and throw out that product. The larvae is about 1/2 inch long and whitish in color. It should be relatively easy to locate if they are full grown because they will be close to the source. If you cannot find the source, you may want to think about ridding the area of all potential sources.

    • 2

      Vacuum out all the corners and crevices.

    • 3

      Take all the products that could be potential breeding ground, put them in plastic containers or zip top bags and place in the freezer for three days to make sure that any larvae don't have a chance to hatch. If you think a product already had an infestation, throw it out.

    • 4

      Clean the shelves and walls of the pantry or cabinet well with a mild detergent and water. Treat the area with a product that contains Cypermethrin.

    • 5

      After a few days, you can put the food stored in the freezer back in the cabinet or pantry.