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A medium-sized pyralid with a wingspan of 15-30 mm. The basal third of the forewing is reddish-brown, the median area brownish-white and the terminal area reddish-brown. There are white AM and PM lines and there is a light subterminal line back of a reddish-brown fringe. The hindwing is grayish-white crossed by two white lines. At rest, the adults fold their wings flat while the abdomen is extended and curled over the body (Goater 1986).

The larvae are dirty white with a dark brown head (Forbes 1923). As in Plodia interpunctella, they live in a silken gallery in their food source. Once an infestation is discovered, the affected food source should be discarded and the area cleaned up. Freezing food products suspected of containing larvae is a good idea. The adults are said to fly at night (Goater 1986).