European grain moth

Nemapogon granella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tineidae

Also called: Corn Moth, Wine Cork Moth

Can damage your home. It damages stored food and pantry goods.

The European grain moth is a tiny moth with a wingspan of about 10 to 18 mm. Its forewings are mottled black, white and grey with a distinctive row of large black spots that form a zig-zag band across the wing. It is a synanthropic species found worldwide, originally ranging across the western Palearctic.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Adults have a wingspan of 10 to 18 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Is it a pest in the house?

The larvae can infest stored dry foods such as dried fruit, mushrooms, cereal, legume seeds, flour, and even cork from wine bottles.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It is a synanthropic moth that has been spread essentially worldwide, though many introduced populations are short-lived.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

In nature the larvae feed on rotting wood, especially bracket fungi such as Polyporales. When associated with humans the larvae eat a variety of dry organic materials, including dried fruit, mushrooms, cereal and legume seeds, flour, Jerusalem artichoke stalks, cork, and the ergot fungus.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Adults are most commonly seen from March through September in the UK.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Its native range covers much of the western Palearctic region.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

It resembles the cork moth (Nemapogon cloacella) but can be distinguished by its row of large black spots forming a zig-zag band on the forewing.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it is found in the US

Recorded in 20 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Virginia, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Massachusetts, Arizona.

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Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.

Source: GBIF

Status: introduced in Canada; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist

Months it is reported in the US

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Source: GBIF

More photos

European grain moth photo 2 — Photo: ingridaltmann, CC BY

European grain moth photo 3 — Photo: ingridaltmann, CC BY

European grain moth photo 4 — Photo: iNaturalist user, CC0

European grain moth photo 5 — Photo: Thomas Irvine, CC BY

Questions people ask

What do the larvae of the European grain moth eat?

In the wild they feed on rotting wood and bracket fungi, while in homes they eat dried fruit, mushrooms, cereal, legume seeds, flour, cork, and ergot fungus.

Source: Wikipedia

When are adult European grain moths active?

Adults are most often seen from March to September, but indoor populations can be found year-round.

Source: Wikipedia

How can I recognize a European grain moth?

Look for a small moth (10 to 18 mm wingspan) with forewings mottled black, white and grey, and a distinctive row of large black spots that form a zig-zag band across the wing.

Source: Wikipedia

Is the European grain moth a problem for stored food?

Yes, its larvae can damage stored dry foods such as dried fruit, flour, cereal, and even cork from wine bottles.

Source: Wikipedia