Short pest overview:

Ephestia elutella is a small moth of the family Pyralidae. This moth flies throughout the warmer months, e.g. from the end of April to October. The caterpillars are often considered a pest, as they feed on dry plant produce, such as cocoa beans and tobacco, as well as cereals and dried fruit and nuts.

Geographic Distribution:

It is probably native to Europe, but has been transported widely, even to Australia.

Life Cycle:

The adult emergence starts, when the daily average temperature reaches 24°С - 25°С. The female lays eggs on or near the products. 100 to 200 eggs are laid in clusters over a two-week period, and larvae hatch 10 to 14 days later, feeding on the product and producing large webs of silk. They develop into adults in about two months under moderate temperatures, optimal development conditions is 40 days. The insect has up to 3-5 generations per year.