Raisin Moth (Cadra figulilella)
Raisin Moth Pheromone Traps
Raisin Moth Description
Adult Raisin Moths: Up to 10 mm (0.4 inch) long with brown/grey coloration. Hindwing has a short fringe.
Raisin Moth Eggs: Oval, ivory in color and 2 mm (0.08 inch) long.
Raisin Moth Larvae: Creamy white, brown head capsule, with rows of spots along the sides. Microscopic examination is required to separate from other Caudra moths.
Raisin Moth Pupae: Pupal cases are whitish with a yellow to brownish colored pupa inside.
Raisin Moth Life Cycle
Adult Raisin moths live for 11-16 days. Mated females can lay 20-300 eggs singly or in groups. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days in warmer months and up to 7 days in cooler months. Larvae mature in 25 days. Adults will emerge from pupation in 8 to 10 days depending on temperature.
Damage & Detection
Damage occurs during the larval phase. Damage occurs in pre- and post-harvest settings inside dried fruits as the larvae bore inside. The use of Raisin Moth pheromone traps and inspections can determine location and degree of infestation.
Fun Facts
Similar species include the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), almond moth (Cadra cautella), and dried fruit moth (Cadra calidella).
Other common names include fig moth.
Like many food moth species, adult raisin moths do not eat. Their larvae are vivacious feeders and damage dried goods.
Larvae produce large amounts of silk which can contaminate dried food goods and clog machinery.
Raisin moths initiate flight at temperatures above 12.5°C (55°F).
The pheromone that attracts the raisin moth also attracts over 20 other moth species (Ephestia spp., Cadra spp., and Spodoptera spp.).
Monitoring Tips & Tricks
Raisin Moth Monitoring Guidelines
Lure
BULLET LURE® - Contains sex pheromone to attract male moths.
Lure Storage
Keep unopened lures in cool storage less than 16°C (60°F) or place in the freezer for extended storage. Lures can remain frozen for up to 24 months or at room temperature for 12 months to retain their full effectiveness for use afterwards.
Trap Designs Used with Lure
NOSURVIVOR traps are diamond shaped sticky traps that can be hung from many locations. This design is the preferred trap for this moth that flies well.
THE SIGHTTRAP™ is the size of a NoSurvivor hanging trap and provides daily images and catch data to help with early detection. The data is available on the web and app-based software, ForesightIPM.
Raisin Moth Pheromone Traps
Trap Placement & Use
Trap Placement Techniques
Pheromone traps can be placed year-round but are especially recommended during warmer months when temperatures exceed 12.5°C (55°F). Place hanging pheromone traps 1.5 m (5 feet) above ground or at eye level to allow for easy inspection when monitoring traps. In areas such as a pantry or home, place one or two pheromone traps per room.
In commercial areas such as warehouses or retail stores, place pheromone traps 7.5–15 m (25–50 feet) apart to determine the presence or absence of Raisin moths. Increase pheromone trap density to 4.5–7.5 m (15–25 feet) apart to help locate the source of Raisin moths.
Keep pheromone traps 7.5 m (25 feet) away from exterior doors. Raisin moth pheromone traps are best utilized in areas that store dried goods such as food, grains, seeds, nuts, dried fruit, animal feed, or pet food.
Trap and Lure Maintenance
Replace traps when glue is filled with insects or becomes dusty. Replace pheromone lures every 90 days. Replace all pheromone lures in a location at the same time. Do not cut the cap off the bullet lure. Do not stagger lure replacement over several weeks. Record date and number of catches to identify trending information.
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Pest FAQs
What is the raisin moth life cycle?
Adult raisin moths live for 11-16 days. Mated females can lay 20-300 eggs singly or in groups. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days in warmer months and up to 7 days in cooler months. Larvae mature in 25 days. Adults will emerge from pupation in 8 to 10 days depending on temperature.
What do raisin moths look like?
Adults raisin moths are up to 10 mm (0.4 inch) long with brown/grey coloration. The hindwings have a short fringe. Eggs are oval in shape and ivory in color and 2 mm (0.08 inch) long.
Larvae are creamy white, brown head capsule, with rows of spots along the sides. Microscopic examination is required to separate from other Caudra moths. Pupal cases are whitish with a yellow to brownish colored pupa inside.
How to get rid of raisin moths?
The use of pheromone traps, otherwise called pantry moth traps, can indicate the presence of raisin moths as well as where the moths are coming from.
A visual inspection of dried food in the vicinity of the pheromone traps containing the most moths can reveal specific items containing larvae, pupae and adult moths.
Once infested materials have been identified, they should be sealed up and discarded into an outdoor trash receptacle or the materials should be sealed in plastic and frozen for a one week period to kill all stages of the moths.
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