Mediterranean Flour Moth

? What is the Mediterranean flour moth

Scientific name: Ephestia kuehniella

Family: Pyralidae

Order: Lepidoptera

Risk level: High

Category: Flying pest

The Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella) is a major pest in flour mills, bakeries and pasta factories. It is dull gray with wavy zigzag lines on its wings. Its larvae spin dense silken threads that clog milling machines and contaminate flour.

Life cycle of the Mediterranean flour moth

It undergoes complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid directly on food, and the larva is the damaging stage. A full generation takes 4–8 weeks. Multiple generations may breed in an infested warehouse.

Distribution of the Mediterranean flour moth

It occurs in food warehouses worldwide and is common in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, especially in hot warehouses.

Damage and risks associated with the Mediterranean flour moth

Its dense silken threads clog machinery, while droppings and shed skins contaminate flour and can stop production in mills.

Signs of a Mediterranean flour moth infestation

Signs include adult moths around light sources; larvae and silken threads in food; droppings and hollow grains caused by weevils and beetles; and small white eggs on food.

Where Mediterranean flour moths are found

They infest flour, barley and corn in mills, including milling, sifting and packaging areas. They breed in flour spilled on floors and in cracks.

Mediterranean flour moth control methods

Monitor with pheromone traps. Spray the warehouse with pyrethroids. Fumigate stored products with phosphine or methyl bromide. For physical control, lower the temperature below 10°C or raise it above 55°C. Rotate stock using FIFO.

Mediterranean flour moth control products

Pyrethroids for warehouses, phosphine (PH₃) for fumigation, deltamethrin for residual spraying and diatomaceous earth for grain.

Requirements for controlling Mediterranean flour moths in food facilities

FSSC 22000 Version 7: stored-product pests are high priority. Pheromone traps with weekly documentation are mandatory. BRCGS: stored-product pests in a product constitute a major Non-Conformance.

A fact about the Mediterranean flour moth

Ephestia kuehniella is one of the rare species that has developed resistance to methyl bromide in some regions, underscoring the importance of rotating fumigants and not relying on a single pesticide in integrated programs.

Frequently asked questions about the Mediterranean flour moth

Q: How do stored-product pests enter a facility?

A: Usually through incoming shipments. Carefully inspect samples from each shipment and quarantine new purchases.

Q: Is a low temperature enough to eliminate stored-product pests?

A: Yes. Temperatures below 10°C for two weeks stop reproduction and kill vulnerable stages. Temperatures below −18°C for three days kill all stages