Indian Meal Moth

The Indian meal moth has a wing expanse of nearly 20 mm. Markings of the forewings are reddish brown with a copper luster on the outer two-thirds, but whitish gray on the inner or body ends. The hind wings lack distinctive markings and are more or less uniformly gray.

A mature female lays 100 to 300 eggs on food material, either singularly or in groups of twelve to thirty. Larvae begin to hatch in two to fourteen days, depending on environmental conditions. Adults emerge in four to thirty days, mate, and females lay the next generation of eggs. Adults live from five to twenty-five days. 

These moths like to feed on dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dog food, powdered milk and dried red peppers. Attracted to the light, these bugs are found worldwide in areas where food is stored, such as grocery stores.