Description The tropical warehouse moth has brown-grey forewings with a darker band running across the middle and far edges. The wings also have a fringe of hair.The wingspan is approximately 15 - 20 mm and when at rest its length is between 10 - 12 mm. The yellow-white larvae grow up to 14 mm long, have a brown head and a dark spot at the base of the back hairs.
Life cycle Females lay between 100 - 200 eggs among or in the infested goods. The eggs hatch in around 4 - 8 days and begin to spin immediately. The larva pupates in a cocoon either within or around the infested material. Normally about 80 days is required from egg to adult however the life cycle can be completed in as few as 60 days.
Damage The tropical warehouse moth occurs both in tropical and temperate regions and commonly attacks grains, nuts, dried fruits and a great variety of other stored products. The adult moths dart about as they fly, and are mostly seen at dawn and dusk.
