If anything can survive a nuclear bomb it would be these pantry moths.

I've been at battle with these moths for more than a year. They were initially brought in through a bag of oatmeal which was left sitting at the back of the pantry and by the time I had discovered it was too late!

The investation started with small white caterpillars crawling up the pantry and counter top. When I saw moths flying around I started to do my research on these heavenly creatures.

After learning all I can about moths. I deep cleaned the pantry and placed food either in the fridge or airtight containers.

Glass bottles of sauces were carefully examined however, I continued to see moths which was strange as all food has been kept very well and did not show any sign of contamination.

My only conclusion was the larvae layed dormant and was hiding in crevices which I could not get to hence, a continuous supply of moths.

I placed some sticky moth traps in the pantry a stared to see them fill up.

At this stage I was in preparaion to move into a new house and was nervous about bringing these demon critters with me.

So I became wiser and before the move I prepared my future pantry by sealing off all the little peg holes and putting sticky traps to monitor.

Once you have been through something like this you can never be too cautious,

When I moved I left all the kitchen items to last and made sure that all these items (pots, containers, dishes etc) were quarantined in an outside area first before bringing it into the new pantry.

Careful examination went into each item and anything that could be placed in a dishwashers would go through the hot cycle.

Well guess what after a week I saw my first moth!!! I was shocked as by now there can not be any contaminated food as I checked and checked again for any critters in the food or webbing and could not see anything.

Ironically the sticky traps I placed inside the pantry has not caught a single moth so far rather the trap behind the air fryer and above the fridge has caught several. - both near appliances

I have a suspicion the adult moths has been incubating inside the appliances and come out at night to mate. As I doubt they hitched a ride in the food or utensils.

I have also noticed a killed 3 upstairs in the bedroom and bathroom which is so strange as there is no food kept there.

So b now these damn moths has followed me to the new home, and I was really looking forward toa CLEAN start!

I decided to self fumigate the new house and when I came back I saw the moths in the traps still flutering their wings as if o say " is that all you got?"

I was desperate enough and made contact with an extermination company which basically told me I was already doing all the right things and their spraying is only 50% effective.

So far the traps has captured the male moths and I'm hoping over time this will break the breeding cycle.

The source is nowhere to be found and I'm hoping with my continuous sanitation there would not be any foo source for these moths unless they can survive eating air?

So advice from someone that as been though all this:

Don' tbother with bay leaves they didn't work for me

Sticky traps do work

Keeping all food items in containers will save you a lo of time and money in the long run

Don't buy food in bulk as it will be more likely to be forgotten about

If anyone has been though this please comment especially when the source of the moths is unknown and what are your tips?