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Insects and other arthropods

Meal moth

English
Pyralis farinalis
Pyralis farinalis
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Maxim Larrivée)
Meal moth
  • Meal moth
  • Meal moth

Tabs group

Description

These moths are recognizable by the two curved white lines on their forewings. The middle part of the wing is a lighter brown than either end. The wingspan is 15 to 30 mm. At rest, the moths adopt an odd posture, holding their wings flat and curving the abdomen upward.

The cream-coloured, hairless, brown-headed caterpillars are up to 20 mm long.

Life cycle

All stages of these insects (egg, caterpillar, chrysalid and adult) are found year-round when they live inside heated buildings. The moths can be seen flying outdoors from May to August. One female can lay from 250 to 500 eggs in small clusters.

Geographic distribution

The species is found all over the world, but is more common in temperate zones.

French name
Pyrale de la farine
Scientific name
Pyralis farinalis
English name
Meal moth
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pyralidae