Meal moth
Scientific name
Pyralis farinalis (L.)
Classification
Secondary pest; Grain feeder
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Acronym: PFA
Description
- Adults are relatively large with a wingspan of 22 to 30 mm and a body length of 7.5 to 15 mm.
- Forewing is distinctly patterned with a pale or tan centre bordered by a reddish base and apex. The centre is bordered by a wavy white line.
- Hind-wing is also patterned.
- Larvae are whitish in colour with a dark head capsule and prothoracic segment.
- Larvae do not haveblack spots on their bodies.
Images
Similar species
- None
Commodities affected
- Wheat, barley, oats, corn, peas, beans, flour, peanuts, dried fruit, potatoes in storage, mixed feed, processed cereals, hay (alfalfa and clover)
Signs of infestation
- Contamination with silk webbing
- Presence of frass (excrement), cast skins, pupal cases, adult remains
Damage
- Damage is caused by larval feeding and is not distinctive.
- Larvae produce silk webbing that can bind the food surface.
- Irregular holes are chewed into attacked material.
How to control
Geographic range
- Is found worldwide but is more common in temperate regions
- Is found across Canada
Where found
- Is able to survive winters in unheated granaries
- Is found in grain elevators, mills, processing facilities, warehouses, grain ships, households
- Is a minor pest of coarsely ground cereal products
- Is most abundant in mouldy grain, decaying cereals and cereal products that have a high moisture content
- May be thought of as an indicator of poor sanitation
Life history
- Females lay ggs randomly amongst the food source.
- Larvae actively leave commodity to search for a site for pupation that occurs in a silken cocoon.
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