Warehouse Moth, Ephestia cautella
Warehouse Moth, Ephestia cautella is a common stored product insect in temperate and tropical regions. It is also known as Cocoa Moth and Tobacco Moth. This species infests cereal, fruit, shelled nuts, cocoa beans, fish, spices and tobacco. Ephestia cautella infestations are especially serious where wheat and flour are stored in bulk.
Biology of Warehouse Moth Ephestia cautella
Adult female lays 120-150 eggs, which are laid in cracks and crevices of the warehouse or food store facilities. Eggs hatch with in 10-12 days; young larvae are a creamy-white colour with dark spots on their sides. Larvae pass through 4-5 moults to attain full growth when they are 10-12 mm long. The larvae go to diapauses stage throughout the winter before pupation. Adults emerge in late spring.
Nature of Damage of Warehouse Moth Ephestia cautella
It is a major pest of warehouses and, retail premises like stores and shops. It became the most common and serious moth pest of food storage in the UK. This species infests cereal, fruit, shelled nuts, cocoa beans, fish, spices and tobacco. The loosely sealed stored food scent attracts female moth and allow depositing eggs nearby and the newly hatched larvae will crawl in and start to feed.
In the case of tobacco, entire interveinal leaf areas may be destroyed. This moth can also eat tobacco, can easily tolerate nicotine, therefore it is one of the most serious pests in the tobacco industry. Ephestia cautella larvae infestation initiates contamination of foods by the silk produced, which may end up in packaged product or in extreme cases block the mill machinery.
Pheromone for Warehouse Moth Ephestia cautella
Russell IPM manufactures and supplies pheromone lure, traps and complete monitoring systems for Webbing Cloth Moth Warehouse Moth Ephestia cautella, Cocoa Moth or Tobacco Moth. Pheromone trap provides early warning of the infestation and will alter the pest controller before infestation become serious.