What is "almond moth"

n. moth whose larvae feed on and mat together with webbing various stored foods [syn: fig moth, Cadra cautella]

The almond moth or tropical warehouse moth (Cadra cautella) is a small stored-product pest. It belongs to the snout moths ( family Pyralidae), more specifically to the tribe Phycitini of the huge snout moth subfamily Phycitinae. This species is often confused with the related Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella).

Other common names – particularly in the nonbiological literature – are dried currant moth and fig moth, which invite confusion with the close relatives C. figulilella (raisin moth) and C. calidella (dried fruit moth). C. cautella has achieved an essentially cosmopolitan distribution due to inadvertent transport with its larval food; it has, for example, been transported across Polynesia with copra shipments.

Adults live for about 10 days after eclosion and do not eat, but may drink if water is available. The mating system is polygamous; many females will only mate once, however. In mating, which takes several hours, the abdomens are placed end to end.

It infests flour, bran, oats, and other grains, as well as dried fruits. Caterpillars are cannibalistic and will even feed on their siblings.