Pantry moths persist because their larvae are feeding in some stored product. Finding that source matters more than chasing individual adults.
Empty the area and inspect package by package
Look for larvae, fine webbing, clumped food, holes, or cocoons around folds. Check flour, cereal, rice, pasta, nuts, seeds, chocolate, spices, and dry pet or bird food.
A closed package is not always protected
Cardboard, paper, and thin film are imperfect barriers, and an item may have arrived infested. Isolate questionable products while you work.
Remove the source and vacuum hiding places
Seal clearly infested food in a bag and remove it. Vacuum shelves, peg holes, joints, and upper cabinet corners where larvae may pupate; empty the vacuum outside.
Do not spray insecticide around stored food as a first response
Source removal and cleaning do the essential work. Return vulnerable products in glass, metal, or sturdy plastic containers with tight lids.
A few adults may still emerge
Adults that had already developed can appear after the main source is gone. Continued or increasing activity means another package may have been missed.
Pheromone traps can help monitor certain moths, but they do not replace inspection and cannot remove larvae living inside food.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Pantry pests — Stored-food pest inspection, source removal, cleanup, and sealed storage.