They look harmless at first — small gray moths fluttering near your kitchen light. But the real problem isn’t the moth you see, it’s what you don’t. Pantry moths often enter homes inside contaminated packages of flour, rice, pasta, cereal, and other dry foods. Sometimes a single package is enough to begin an infestation that can spread throughout a cupboard.

Once inside, the moths reproduce quickly. Females lay eggs directly in stored food, and after the larvae hatch, they feed inside the products. One of the first signs is thin, silk-like webbing around or inside food packages. You may also notice clumps in dry ingredients, small larvae, or a faint musty smell. By the time these signs become obvious, the infestation may already have spread to several items.

Throwing away one affected package may not solve the problem. Pantry moths can remain hidden in other foods, cupboards, or small cracks, which is why they may seem to return from nowhere. Carefully inspect flour, grains, cereal, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, and similar products, especially packages that have been stored for a long time.

The most important step is removing every contaminated food item. Discard anything showing webbing, larvae, or other signs of infestation, then thoroughly clean the shelves, corners, and cracks of your cabinets. Vacuuming these areas can help remove hidden eggs or larvae. Storing dry foods in sealed, airtight containers and inspecting new packages before putting them away can help prevent them from spreading again.