How to get rid of pantry moths in dog food | Non-toxic

How to get rid of pantry moths in dog food

A big bag of kibble is one of the most common and most overlooked ways pantry moths get into a home. Dog food is full of the grains and fats their larvae feed on. A bag left open or loosely closed lets moths pass in and out, spreading the problem. Here is how to clear them out and keep your pet's food protected, without any chemicals near what your dog eats.

Why dog food attracts pantry moths

Pantry moths usually arrive as eggs already inside a new bag of dog food, hidden in the kibble from somewhere along the way to the store. Wherever the bag is kept, from a kitchen cupboard to a garage shelf, that warmth is all they need to hatch into larvae and multiply. Because a bag of dog food can sit around for weeks, an infestation has plenty of time to build before you notice the webbing. (More on the how and why: How to get rid of pantry moths in birdseed and Does pet food attract insects?)

The non-toxic fix for pet food

Throw out any dog food with webbing, clumping or larvae, since infested kibble is not worth keeping. If a bag looks clean but sat near the trouble, freeze it for a week to kill any hidden eggs before you trust it. Then move the kibble out of its bag and into a sealed metal or heavy plastic container, which both traps anything already inside and keeps new moths out. Hang a Pantry Moth Trap nearby to catch adult males and warn you early if the problem returns. If the food was kept in a cabinet, wipe it out and puff Dust to Dust in a thin, even layer into the cabinet cracks with the Insect Buster, keeping it off the food.

Protect your dog's food

• Toss the infested kibble: discard any dog food with webbing, clumps or larvae.
• Freeze if unsure: freeze a clean-looking bag for a week before you trust it.
• Seal it up: move kibble into an airtight metal or heavy plastic container, out of the bag.
• Monitor with a trap: hang a Pantry Moth Trap nearby to catch males and warn you early.
• Treat the cabinet: if the food sat in a cabinet, puff Dust to Dust into its cracks, never on the food.

Related: How to get rid of Indian meal moths and How to get rid of pantry moths in the kitchen.

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