Mediterranean Flour Moth

The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, is a primary pest of flour mills and food processing facilities, classified within the family Pyralidae. Adults are grayish-white moths with a wingspan of 20-25 mm, distinctive with their undulating black lines across the forewings and a resting posture where the anterior part of the body is raised, giving a sloping appearance. Females lay 100-300 small, whitish eggs loosely in food materials. Larvae are whitish or pinkish, up to 15 mm long, with a dark head. They spin extensive silken webbing as they feed. The life cycle takes approximately 30-90 days at optimal conditions of 25-300C and 70-80% RH, but can extend significantly in cooler temperatures.

Adult Mediterranean flour moths are primarily nocturnal, but can be seen flying erratically during the day within infested areas. They do not feed. Females lay eggs directly onto or near suitable food sources. The larvae are the damaging stage, constructing extensive silken tubes and webbing throughout infested commodities. This webbing is a characteristic sign of infestation, often clumping flour and clogging machinery. Larvae typically wander away from the food source to pupate in crevices or corners, forming a cocoon.