The most common infestation in home food pantries is the Indian meal moth. The mature moth is small and copper colored with a light band across the forewings that is visible when the wings are folded. Female moths lay eggs in such products as pasta, flour, spices, dried fruit, and pet food. When the eggs hatch, the pale yellow worms will be visible in infested products before they spin cocoons, producing large amounts of webbing. While an infestation can occur if a mature moth finds its way into the home and lays eggs, most homeowners experience meal moth infestations when they bring products into the home that are already infested, as the larvae can squeeze into sealed packaging in grocery stores and manufacturing facilities.
Flour beetles also are an occasional pantry problem. These tiny beetles are shiny, reddish-brown ovals barely 1/8 of an inch long. They are attracted to the same products as meal moths, laying eggs that hatch to produce white-brown worms, which then grow into the beetles.
Pantry pests generally do not cause health hazards, but an infestation can be difficult to eradicate. Reduce the risk of an infestation by keeping flour and pasta products in the refrigerator and checking products carefully for webbing or worms before storing.