Moths

Moths are the common name for mostly nocturnal insects of the order Lepidoptera, whose adults or larvae may be pests of plants and stored foods. The potato tuber moth damages potatoes in field and store, the codling moth attacks walnuts and apples, and the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, is the classic pest of flour, grains, dried fruits, and nuts. Larvae of some species, such as the emperor moth, are even eaten as food in parts of Africa. In food plants, control relies on pheromone monitoring traps, rigorous sanitation, stock rotation, sealed storage, and, where permitted, targeted fumigation or biological controls, since webbing, frass, and larvae make products unfit for sale.