PEST NAME :  TROPICAL WAREHOUSE MOTH, DRIED FRUIT MOTH (Ephestia cautella)

SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR : 12 to 18mm. Dull grey brown upper forewing, straight dark inner band has pale bank along inner edge.

BIOLOGY : 350 eggs laid during adults first four days following emergence.  Eggs hatch 3 to 17 days later.  At 25oc they develop fully in 25 days. Larvae migrate away to pupate and attach themselves to wall junctions away from light.  They diapause as larvae until pupation in May of the following year.

PREFERRED FOODS :  Attacks all stored commodities except tobacco and animal products, prefer dried fruits, nuts, oilseeds and chocolate products.

HABITAT : Imported into the UK in raw materials.  Found in warehousing.