When fully developed, the larvae leave these tubes and spin silken cocoons in which they pupate. The larvae of this moth species feed on a variety of grain products. They are generally a problem on food products that are in poor condition, moist, or stored in damp places. The whiteshouldered house moth, Endrosis sarcitrella, is not common in household products but is found occasionally, and thus deserves mention. This white shoulder becomes dingy as the adults age.
Adults are roughly the same size as meal moths.
Larvae feed on grain products, wool or other protein-based carpets, corks, dry seeds, fungi on trees, on rubbish in bird nests, and on other foodstuffs or organic debris which has accumulated undisturbed. The brown house moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella, is about as common as the whiteshouldered moth. The bronze-brown adult has dark spots on the forewings and is slightly larger than the whiteshouldered moth. Larvae feed in grain products, furs, paper, carpets, insect collections, dried fruits, and on a variety of other stored products. Prevention and Control of Meal Moths Sanitation.