These Creepy Crawlies In This Man's Spice Cabinet Are A *Gross* Cautionary Tale About Properly Storing Your Food

I know I need to watch out for skeletons in the closets of people I’m dating, but I didn’t realize I’d have to seriously worry about creepy pests lurking in my own pantry… until now. Recently, I stumbled upon a viral Reddit post detailing a horrifying moment when one user, derekcomedy, discovered unwelcome guests among his kitchen staples. The photos looked straight out of a horror movie — and after seeing them, I’m determined to make sure my pantry never ends up the same way.

Go ahead, take a close look… do you see what I see?

Yes, that is a spice container filled with sesame seeds, granulated garlic, and... worms!? Those detestable little bugs aren't really worms at all. They are Indianmeal moths, aka "pantry moths," and apparently, many people have dealt with their fair share of them. Reddit users who knew what they were quickly offered their opinions on how the infestation came about — in addition to making quips about the state of his unfortunate spice container.

One commenter, rbeecubes, warned the Reddit poster just how thoroughly Indianmeal moths invade a kitchen once they've found a way in: "I guarantee you that any grain/pasta/nut type product in your pantry has these fellas unless they were in airtight containers...Throw everything out that has a trace of them, and clean out your pantry, making sure there are no crumbs or anything around for them to get. Good luck!"

They say knowledge is power, and I’d love to have the power to avoid an Indianmeal moth infestation! I decided I had to verify the advice people were giving So, I researched these pesky little bugs — what they are, how to prevent them, and, most importantly, how to get rid of them. Now, I’m here to share everything I learned with you.

One silver lining is that, unlike some pests, pantry moths are relatively safe and aren't pathogen carriers. I personally know someone who has a bag of moth-contaminated whole grain flour that he still bakes with! Feel free to judge, I know I do.

It turns out rbeecubes's advice is exactly right; according to Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, the only food products that have a chance against the dreaded moths must be stored in durable, airtight containers. The pantry moth eggs that hatched in this spice container were likely able to thrive and spread because the paper towel prevented the lid from being airtight. When asked how the towel got there, the original poster said his wife "thought it would help keep the moths out."

Another Reddit user pointed out the sad irony of using a paper towel as a "solution" to the infestation, commenting: "The very thing she used to stop them only helped them along!"

Pantry moths are a common and persistent pest in homes and professional kitchens. Their larvae (the worm-like creatures seen in these images) can hitch a ride in food products like grains, flour, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, bird seed, and pet food. While pantry moths prefer warmer conditions to grow and develop, they can survive in dormant stages (commonly as eggs or larvae) for months until conditions are right for them to mature and, unfortunately, spread.

The moths can also sneak into your kitchen's dry foods through windows or doors, attracted by light or the smell of food, though this is less common. 

Once they find their way into your kitchen, Indianmeal moths quickly grow and multiply, building webs like those in derekcomedy's photos as larvae before growing into winged adults. One female moth can lay up to 300 eggs and have a lifespan of as short as one month; that's a lot of potential moths multiplying fast. Here's a nifty visual to help demonstrate the speedy life cycle:

When dealing with an active pantry moth infestation, immediately removing infested goods is crucial for eradicating the moths for good. Seal contaminated food in an airtight bag or container and dispose of it outside your home. Even if you only spot webs or larvae in one item, you must go through your entire pantry to prevent further spread. Check every corner, with special attention to cardboard boxes and foods in thin plastic bags, which these moths can easily chew through to access grains, seeds, and nuts.

It turns out these little guys are unintentionally health-conscious and are particularly attracted to whole grains and nuts — like the health-store trail mixes usually packaged in flimsy plastic bags. If you think plastic bags will keep your dry goods safe, think again. Pantry moths are ruthless feeders that can chew their way through thin plastic without trouble.

A defeated Reddit user commented on photos of the bug-ridden everything spice: "Sometimes there's just nothing you can do because the food is contaminated in the factory or grocery store if you buy in bulk. I've had completely sealed bags of grains with moths in them." And it's true, the threat of pantry moths is impossible to escape, but you can take steps to lower your risk of infestation.

While there are products to trap and kill pantry moths, transferring moth-free dry goods into secure, airtight containers and maintaining a clean pantry are the best lines of defense against an infestation. Mason jars are an excellent, cost-effective choice for storage because the Indianmeal moth can't penetrate glass. Plus, you're pantry will look so sustainable-chic with all those labelled jars!

If you want to go the extra mile to prevent pantry moth larvae from infesting your kitchen, freeze your flour, or really any dry grains, after purchasing for at least four days. The freezer will kill any moth eggs and keep the infestation from spreading. Just remember to sift your flour the next time you go to bake something. While consuming moth larvae won't get you sick, it's definitely unappetizing.

Pantry moths might not be as notorious as some other household pests, but as the OP's pantry discovery showed, they’re no less disturbing. Fortunately, by transferring your dry goods into sturdy, airtight containers, keeping your pantry clean, and taking a few preventive steps (like freezing grains and flour for a few days), you can avoid the horror of discovering pantry moths in your own food. So, take a quick inventory and give your pantry a little TLC.

Have you ever dealt with pantry moths in your home? Tell us about it in the comments.