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Mites in the pantry ?
Do you find small gray moths in the kitchen, white threads in the flour, silky cocoons on the shelves, or larvae in the cereal? The pantry mothIndian meal mothcan contaminate an entire pantry in 4 to 6 weeks.
Contact a specialized exterminator for identification, professional treatment, and food protection advice.
Pest control specialist food mites
The pantry mothIndian meal moth), also called the Indian meal moth, is one of the most common pantry pests in Quebec. A single female lays between 200 and 400 eggs in 2 to 3 weeks, and the larvae feed on flour, rice, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and pet food.
The infestation almost always comes from a store-bought product that is already contaminated. Without quick intervention, the colony spreads throughout the pantry in 4 to 6 weeks and is resistant to commercial pheromone traps.
✅ Precise Identification – ✅ Adulticide + IGR Treatment – ✅ Storage Recommendations
Why do food moths exist multiplies so quickly
The meal moth completes its cycle from egg → larva → cocoon → moth in 4 to 6 weeks at room temperature. White larvae remain invisible in open containers for 14 to 28 days, eating flour, grains, and dried fruit undetected.
Our professional approach:
1. Full pantry mapping — each container is inspected to identify the source.
2. Physical removal of contaminated food (discard, freeze for 72 hours, or cook above 60°C).
3. Adulticide treatment on adult butterflies + growth regulator (IGR) which prevents the larvae from reaching adulthood.
4. Second visit to verify the elimination of all generations.
Insecticide gel treatment
Our treatment combines a fast-acting adulticide (eliminates moths) and an IGR growth regulator (prevents larvae from reaching adulthood). Apply in cracks and non-food areas only.
Preventive inspection and sealing
Our technicians inspect cracks, entry points, wet areas and nesting sites. Where possible, we recommend sealing access points to greatly reduce the risk of reinfestation.
Targeted spraying and spot treatment
We apply professional products approved by Health Canada to strategic areas such as baseboards, cracks, garages, foundations, windowsills and other points of activity. Treatment is targeted to maximize effectiveness while limiting unnecessary exposure.
Long-lasting professional baits
Our Health Canada approved products are used in residential and commercial food environments (grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants). No contact with preparation surfaces. Monitoring pheromone traps included.
Why choose us
Why a pantry moth specialist ?
Commercially available pheromone traps only attract adult males — they do not kill eggs, larvae, or fertilized females. The infestation continues invisibly while you see fewer butterflies.
Our goal: identify the source, eliminate all generations, and prevent reinfestation.
Our advantages:
🔬 Microscopic identification
Distinguish Plodia interpunctella from other food moths (Ephestia, Tribolium) to target the correct treatment.💨 Adulticide + Targeted IGR
Elimination of butterflies + blocking of larval maturation. No new generation possible.📋 Storage Protocol
Specific recommendations on airtight containers, preventative freezing, and inspection of purchases.
Our method in 4 steps
The extermination of pantry moths relies on 4 steps: identification, physical removal of contaminated food, targeted chemical treatment, and prevention through airtight storage. Without addressing the source (contaminated food), the treatment fails.
Recognize a pantry moth infestation
Physical characteristics
The pantry mothIndian meal mothis a small moth, easily recognizable by its distinctive coloration.
- Adult size 8 to 10 mm long, wingspan 14 to 20 mm; ;
- Color : forewings grayish-bronze at the tip, creamy white at the base; ;
- Larvae white to cream, 12 to 15 mm, brown head; ;
- Cocoons silky whitish in the corners of shelves, on packaging, against walls; ;
- Activity nocturne, moths attracted to light in the evening; ;
- Full cycle egg → larva → cocoon → adult in 4 to 6 weeks.
Pantry signs
- Small bronze-grey butterflies flying in the evening toward the lamps; ;
- Whitish silken cocoons in the corners of the shelves, the pantry ceiling; ;
- White threads or balls in flour, rice, sugar, cereals, dried fruit; ;
- White grubs of 12-15 mm in non-hermetic containers; ;
- Pants in thin plastic packaging and cereal bags; ;
- Granules or powder at the bottom of the infested containers.
What foods are attacked?
Moths feed on carbohydrates, starches, and dry matter of plant origin. The foods most at risk:
- Flours (wheat, corn, rice, oats) — the main target; ;
- Dry cereal (oat flakes, granola, breakfast cereals) ;
- Rice, pasta, semolina, couscous ;
- Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, dates, walnuts) ;
- Chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar ;
- Dry pet food (dogs, cats, birds); ;
- Powdered baby food, baking mixes.
An untreated infestation can result in $200 to $500 of food being thrown away.
Why the professional treatment ?
Insecticide sprays in kitchens are not recommended (food contact) and pheromone traps only target adult males.
Our professional treatment includes:
- Mapping of all food storage areas ;
- Systematic disposal: discard, freeze for 72 hours, or consume quickly; ;
- Deep cleaning of tablets (soapy water + vinegar); ;
- adulticide application in cracks (no food contact); ;
- IGR application (insect growth regulator) ;
- Installation of pheromone monitoring traps ;
- Second visit.
Prevent return pantry moths
Preventing pantry moths relies on airtight storage and systematic inspection of purchases.
- Store ALL dry foods in airtight containers (glass or leak-proof plastic); ;
- freeze new high-risk purchases (flour, bagged rice, boxed cereals) for 72 hours; ;
- Check the date on the packaging before purchasing (buy the most recent); ;
- Inspect packaging for holes, threads, or cocoons upon purchase. ;
- clean pantry shelves once a month ;
- vacuum corners, crevices, and behind containers; ;
- quickly remove empty packaging.
What what our customers say
Areas served
Our specialized team intervenes throughout the Greater Montreal area for infestations of Indian meal moth in houses, condos, food businesses, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Montreal: Ahuntsic, Villeray, Rosemont, Plateau, Saint-Léonard, Mercier, Anjou, Saint-Laurent, Hochelaga, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
Laval and South Shore Longueuil, Brossard.
Written guarantee against food moths
Each professional treatment includes a 6-month written guarantee, monitoring traps, and a second visit to verify complete elimination.
Other pests we treat
In addition to pantry moths, we offer professional pest control services for several other pests in Montreal, Laval, on the North Shore and on the South Shore.
- 🪳 Cockroaches – Kitchens, pantries, appliances.
- 🐭 Mice and rats – Salmonella carriers in food areas.
- 🐟 Silverfish – Insects of damp areas that feed on starch.
- 🧥 Clothes moths – The other family of household moths.
- 🪲 Bedbugs – Mattress and room parasites.
How much does it cost A food moth extermination?
The price of a food moth extermination in Montreal usually ranges between $250 and $500. depending on pantry size and extent of infestation. Treatment in 2 visits, with a 6-month written guarantee.
Request your free submission (438) 835-8401.
Fair questions about pantry moths
The food miteIndian meal mothis a 8-10 mm moth with grey-bronze wings at the tip and cream-white at the base. The larvae are white, 12-15 mm long with a brown head. You will see silken cocoons in the corners of pantry shelves and white webbing in open containers (flour, rice, cereal).
All the plant-based dry matter flours, cereals, rice, pasta, dried fruits, chocolate, sugar, nuts, pet food, powdered baby food. An untreated infestation can contaminate $200 to $500 of food.
No, not alone. Pheromone traps only attract adult males. Eggs, larvae, and fertilized females continue to reproduce. To eliminate an infestation, you must combine an adulticide with a growth regulator (IGR) and physically remove contaminated food.
No. Inspect each container and discard only those showing signs (cocoons, larvae, threads, moths). Airtight containers in good condition are safe. Freezing for 72 hours at -18°C kills all stages for questionable but not visibly infested foods.
The price usually ranges between $250 and $500 depending on the size of the pantry and the extent of the contamination. A second visit is included to ensure complete eradication.
With professional treatment, activity decreases in 5 to 10 days and complete elimination takes 2 to 4 weeks because the developing eggs hatch gradually. A follow-up visit confirms success.
Yes. We use approved products. Health Canada APPLY ONLY in cracks and non-food areas. Food preparation surfaces and utensils are protected. We recommend covering food + dishes during treatment.
Almost always of a Product purchased in-store was already contaminated (flour, rice, grains, dried fruit, pet food). Microscopic eggs or larvae arrive in the packaging and hatch once at home. Inspecting packaging at the time of purchase and freezing at-risk items for 72 hours drastically reduces the risk.
