Grain moth

Biology:

With a wingspan of 14 mm, the grain moth (family Tineidae, true moths) is one of the smallest food-damaging moths. The black-brown forewings are pied with white and yellow and have gray-brown fringes. The caterpillars are whitish yellow and reach a size of approx. 10 mm. Originally, the corn moth colonized tree sponges. As it is a native species, it also tolerates low temperatures relatively well. Outdoors, the moths of Nemapogon granellus mainly occur in July and August.

Damage:

In addition to cereals, where it prefers to eat the seedling, the grain moth can also be found in seeds, legumes, dried fruits, almonds, dried mushrooms and sometimes in rotten wood. The caterpillar is light-shy and pupates in eaten grains. Spinning activity and droppings cause the infested food to clump together, which also takes on an unpleasant odor.