Ephestia kuehniella
| Mediterranean flour moth | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Tribe: | Phycitini |
| Genus: | Ephestia |
| Species: | E. kuehniella |
| Binomial name | |
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Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mediterranean flour moth, Indian flour moth or mill moth (Ephestia kuehniella) is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is a common pest of dry plant produce – especially cereals – and found around the world.
Another common name, less unambiguous, is "flour moth", which (like "pantry moth", occasionally used for the present species) may also refer to the related Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella). In addition, the species has been discussed under a number of now-invalid junior synonyms, its specific name has been frequently misspelled, and it was once placed in a distinct genus Anagasta (now considered a subgenus of Ephestia).
The adult moth is pale gray and up to 12 mm long, with dark bands. The hindwings are grayish-white. The wingspan is between 16 mm and 20 mm. The larva (caterpillar) is off-white with a darker head and small black spots on its body. The larva emerge from tube-like structures about 7 days after they hatch. The larva is about 12 mm long when mature. The larva then find a place to spin a cocoon. When the larva spin cocoons, they turn to a reddish-brown color. It takes about 8–12 days for the larva to become a moth and it takes 2–4 weeks for the egg to become an adult. The female moth lays 120–680 small white eggs. These eggs commonly attach to food and they hatch within 3–8 days.
The caterpillars are often found feeding on flour, cereals, baked goods and other dry grain products in food storage areas. Less often, dried fruits or mushrooms and even peat or rotting wood may be eaten. The species may reach extreme population densities in suitable locations (such as gristmills) if left uncontrolled, and the silken webs produced by the caterpillars may even interfere with normal operations of machinery such as flour sieves. The adult moths do not feed.
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Wikipedia