Which insect infests our food cupboard?

I am looking for the name of this insect. It reminds me of a moth, but there are probably many kinds of it. It terrorizes a cupboard with food items and leaves eggs and larvae in rice, flour, sugar, oatmeal, etc. It leaves behind a spider web-like structure that then contains larvae. Some periods (if we have found a source full of larvae) they are less intense, later they are present again in full force. The question is whether these can be combated in any way. We have already thrown away all products more than once, but when I also recently found a larva in a tea bag, it became clear how difficult it is to get rid of them.

Asker: Peter, 55 years old

Answer

Dear Peter,

The moth is an Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). A tough customer to get rid of. You may find some useful tips here:

http://nl.wikihow.com/Zo-kom-je-van-meelmotten-af

Regards,

Kristof

Answered by

Vet Kristof Baert

Fauna Management and Invasive Species Rodent control: brown rat, muskrat and coypu Wildlife diseases

Institute for Nature and Forest Research
Rue des Clinic 25 1070 Brussels
http://www.inbo.be

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