Pantry Moth Traps FAQsUpdated 8 months ago

Where do pantry moths come from?

Pantry moths, such as the Indian meal moth, commonly enter homes when they are carried in, inside of dry goods purchased from an affected supplier. However, in warmer months they can also survive outside, and can come in seeking a place to find food and lay their eggs. Once inside, they find food in pantries, ideal for laying eggs and multiplying.

These moths are drawn to a variety of dry foods, such as grains, nuts, legumes, cocoa, chocolate, tea, spices, dried fruits and veggies, and even tobacco. Signs of an infestation include the moths' webbing on food packages or inside containers, which often results in food clumping together.

How do I get rid of pantry moths?

Getting rid of pantry moths can be a challenge; we are here to help! Dr. Killigan's Pantry Moth Traps uses potent pheromones to lure and capture the males, thus disrupting the mating cycle. Begin by giving your pantry a thorough cleaning and disposing of any food that's been contaminated. It's important to eliminate potential food sources.

Install the traps as per the provided instructions, focusing on areas with high moth activity. Regularly inspect the traps, replacing them every three months or sooner if they fill up. Consistently checking the traps and maintaining a clean, well-organized pantry, with food stored in sealed containers, will help keep moths at bay.

For more in-depth instructions, check out THIS ARTICLE!

What do pantry moth larvae look like?

Pantry moth larvae are typically small, white or cream-colored, and are often found within or around pantry staples such as grains, flour and nuts. They resemble maggots, more than caterpillars, and can grow up to 1.7 cm in length. The larvae are the ones that do the most damage, as the adult moths do not feed.

These larvae are known to produce webbing around food items, which can result in grains or flour sticking together. The presence of these larvae or their webbing is a telltale sign of a pantry moth infestation.

How long do the Moth Traps traps last?

Unopened, Dr Killigan's traps are designed to maintain full potency for three years from the date of manufacture, which is printed on the inside of the box lid.

Once opened, the moth traps are designed to remain effective for about three months.

Having said that, if you notice that the traps have filled up or if there seems to be an increase in moth activity, it may be time for an early replacement. The frequency of replacing the traps can vary based on the severity of your moth infestation; more significant issues may necessitate quicker replacements.

Regularly inspecting the traps will assist in managing and controlling moth populations effectively.

How soon will the traps start catching moths?

We recommend allowing at least 10 days before deciding if Dr Killigan's Pantry Moth Traps will work for you, as it can take the pheromones that long to be fully released.

The pheromones in our traps reach a 25 ft. radius, and it takes a few days for the mature males to catch the scent and be drawn in. Move the traps after several days if there are no moths in them, to ensure the moths are able to smell them.

Please keep in mind that the traps will only attract mature males. If your traps aren't catching moths, it's possible that you currently only have females and immature males.

Pantry moths follow the life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The life cycle may be completed in as little as 30 days or as long as 300 days, depending on food availability and temperature.

If after 10 days, you still have not caught any moths, then the moths you are trying to catch are most likely a different strain or species.

If I don't have moths, will these traps attract them?

In the vast majority of the United States, weather conditions are such that moths do not live outdoors, in the wild. Though theoretically possible, it is not the norm for moths to enter your home on their own accord, from outside. Especially considering that they can only survive outside in mild warm weather.

Moths are better known as homebodies - they don't typically go exploring for new sources of food and shelter. The vast majority of moths are introduced into homes by infected items. Whether that's a bag of grain that you purchase at your local produce market, or a carpet that carries a few eggs with it, just waiting for the warmth of spring to burst out of their shells and start munching.

Dr Killigan's moth traps have a 25-foot radius. So, technically speaking, if you regularly leave your doors and windows open, and moths are immediately outside your home, they would be able to smell it and possibly come inside. However, this is very unlikely.

We recommend using the traps to assess whether or not moths are currently present in your home, and preemptively cut short the mating cycle to prevent an infestation. If you feel concerned about attracting moths from outside your home, we recommend placing the traps in a location where they are at least 25 feet from an open door or window, and that should be sufficient to prevent any possibility of attracting the unwanted pests.

What if the traps are working, but there are still moths?

Placing moth traps in your kitchen, pantry and cupboards will interrupt the mating process by trapping males.

In order to eliminate the overall problem (females and juveniles included), it is critical to find any contaminated food sources. Check all pantry foods thoroughly for traces of moths - webbing or tiny black feces. Remove and dispose of any contaminated foods, and ensure that everything else is sealed tightly.

It's also important to note that, while you are trapping the adult males, the adult females, larvae and eggs are still at large. Continue to trap and deal with any moths you see, manually. Remember that eggs may have been laid before you laid the traps, or before the males were caught. So you will most likely need to deal with a few moth LIFE CYCLES before you achieve complete victory.

HERE is some more, in-depth information on how to outlast and, ultimately, gain complete victory over the pesky critters.