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Of primary importance is to identify all individual sources of the infestation. The most prominent sign of an infestation is the presence of some degree of webbing to determine which items are infested.
Any examination must be very thorough since the range of materials potentially infested is so broad. First go through items in the pantry which may host Indian meal moth. They are commonly found in coarse cereal products (e.g, oatmeal, breakfast cereals), nuts, herbs and spices, dried soups, dried fruits and vegetables. Start with the top-most shelf to determine if at that level any adult beetles are seen. Then move down to the next lower shelf. Pay particular attention to any items that have remained in the storage area for long periods. Foods that are loosely sealed or are in thin wrapping are more likely to be infested than materials in insect resistant containers such as hard plastic or metal.
The Indian meal moth may also be found in other materials around the home. Dried dog food and bird seed have proven too be prime foods for the meal moth and should be checked. Dried flowers and some craft items that include seeds may be infested. Areas where flour and other materials used in baking may have spilled can also support Indian meal moth. Larvae are also known to occur in the stored caches of seeds and nuts that squirrels and other rodents may have around the home.
Upon locating any infested material, it should be immediately discarded as the easiest thing to do to begin elimination of the infestation. Treatments to rid presence of the animal involve using heat or cold to kill any larvae and eggs that may be in the food. Freezing temperatures requires putting infested items in deep freeze for at least four days to be certain of elimination. Effectiveness of cold treatment may be improved by alternating freezing treatments with re-warming to room temperatures for a few days. High temperature treatments may be used and involve oven heating at around 120 to 140 degrees F for 20 minutes. Longer intervals may be are needed if treated items are bulky, requiring longer periods to raise internal temperatures. One drawback is that injury to the food is possible with excessively high temperature treatments.
Since insects also can develop on spilled food, so thoroughly clean areas where food was stored by vacuuming or sweeping up all spilled food. Thoroughness of the cleaning is most important primarily to eliminate any food for surviving insects to feed on. I would suggest to use (soapy water, bleach, etc.) as a cleaning agent as the type of material is less important than the permanent elimination of the food.
Food supplies that at heated or undergo cold treatment are capable of being immediately re-infested as long as Indian meal moths remain inside the structure, consequently extra care should be taken during this stage of elimination and control. Although adult moths may only live for a week or so, larvae that have recently pupated in hidden areas of the home may also be a potential source of re-infestation. Indian meal moths must be denied access to all food sources for the length of time that is required to complete the pupal stage plus how long the adult life span can be. Under optimum temperatures the caterpillars may become fully-grown in as little as a month; development typically requires a much longer period. A month should be adequate to cover this period.
In the meantime, susceptible food items must be stored to prevent possible re-infestation. Place all foods in tightly sealed containers. I prefer plastic containers because they can withstand a good deal of opening and re-opening. Food also may be stored in the refrigerator or outdoors until the moths have died out.
Although Indian meal moth can be eliminated, re-infestation is always possible through accidental reintroductions on infested food. Consideration should be given to how bulk foods are stored. Bulk seeds and other commonly infested foods (e.g., bird seed, dog food) should be stored in outbuildings away from the pantry area. Foods in pantries should be stored in containers that are tight-fitting enough to prevent entry by the minute early stage larvae and must be thick enough to prevent it being penetrated by the chewing of late stage larvae.
Use of insecticides within the pantry area is recommended and should be used in only the cracks and crevices where the larvae can hide. The amount of protection this supplies can be the difference in a new infestation or re-infestation. A insect growth-control hormone should always be used to reduce the possibility of development on the Indian Meal Moth. Never apply insecticides in a manner that is inconsistent with label recommendations or allows direct contact with food, food preparation surfaces or food utensils.
The use of pheromones
Pheromone traps are commercially available for the Indian meal moth that have a mating-attractant known as a sex pheromone. This is the chemical used by the female Indian meal moth to attract males. Such traps are very useful for identify “hot spots” of infestation. Remember that these traps only capture males, and usually only a small fraction of these. If mated females are not captured, they will continue re-infestation. | 
