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Get Rid of Moths
Get safe and professional tailored solutions to quickly remove moths and larvae
Common moth species
Moths may look small and harmless but they can cause surprising amounts of damage to your clothing and stored products in general.
Learn more about the lifecycle and habits of moths that are commonly found in the Philippines.
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Indian Meal Moth
(Plodia Interpunctella)
The Indian meal moth larva's is a very common commercial and pantry pest.
Appearance
- Adult has wingspread of about 14 – 20mm.
- Has pale gray wings, but the front wing is reddish brown and coppery on the outer two-thirds.
- Mature larva is usually dirty white, but may vary to greenish, pinkish, or brownish, depending on the food it eats.
- Head region is yellowish to reddish brown
Life Cycle
- The Indian meal moth female lays approximately 200 eggs, on food material during a 1-18 day period of time.
- Temperature and availability of food determine the length of the larval stages.
- The last instar larva leaves the food to find a suitable place for pupation.
- The complete life cycle takes 25-135 days, with 4-6 generations per year.
Habits
- The adult Indian Meal Moth causes no damage.
- Their larvae produce the web material commonly found in food, such as dried fruits, whole wheat and, cornmeal, and shelled or ear corn.
- Attracted to grain, grain products; corn, lots of different dried foods, such as fruit, nuts, seeds, also, biscuits and powdered milk; chocolate, candy; dried red peppers; dry dog food.
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Rice Moth
(Corcyra cephalonica)
Appearance
- Adult forewings are uniformly pale buff brown with slightly darkened veins.
- Larva is pale white in colour with brown head capsule and prothoracic tergite.
Life Cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes about a month.
Habits
- Eggs are laid on food.
- Larva pupates at stored product, store structures or on the bags.
- Adult is nocturnal, hence are most active during night time.
- Leaves webbing, cocoon, frass and excreta at infested areas.
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Tropical Warehouse Moth
(Ephestia Cautella)
Appearance
- Adult wingspan wing span is around 15 — 20mm long.
- Adult forewings are grey-brown banded with lighter and darker colours.
- Larva can be whitish, yellowish or reddish in colour depending on food consumption.
Life Cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes 31 days.
Habits
- Larva tends to wander upwards to dark areas to pupate.
- Often found on stored cereals, nuts, dried fruit, oil seeds and oilcakes.
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Angoumois Grain Moth
(Sitotroga cerealella)
Appearance
- Adult wing span is around 10 – 18 mm long.
- Adult forewings are pale brown in colour and often with small black spot at the outer half.
- The hint wings are with a long fringe of hairs, and sharply pointed at the tip.
Life Cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes around 25 – 28 days.
Habits
- Eggs are laid on grain.
- Larva completes its development within a single seed and leaves a small round hole when pupation complete.