Keep Pantry Pests Out of Your Home
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It is easy to miss an infestation because pantry pests are normally small insects. Their eggs are even smaller and can be impossible to spot before they hatch. The first sign of pantry pests is seeing small moths or beetles near packages of food in your home. Moths and beetles are the most common types of pantry pests.
Both moth and beetle larvae will feed on food stored by humans. Adult beetles also eat foodstuffs but adult moths do not. A package of food is considered contaminated the instant that it is touched by either of these pests so keeping them out of your property is essential.
Meal Moth Identification
Almost all damage done by moths is done in the larvae stage. Moth larvae will attack a variety of products including cereal, flour, chocolate, nuts, candies, rice and almost any other food they find in their path. They have been known to completely destroy stored food if left untreated for too long.
Indian meal moths are fairly easy to identify once they are adults. They are a fairly small moth with a 1/3 to 1/2 inch long wingspan. Their reddish brown wings have a coppery shine to them that makes them easy to spot.
Pantry Beetle Identification
There are several species of beetle that can be found in the home. Warehouse beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, red flour beetles and drugstore beetles all feed on food that is stored by humans. They feed on a wide variety of foods. Cereals, cornmeal, cookies, pet food, chips, pastas, flour and nuts can all be targeted by pantry beetles.
Adult beetles found in the pantry can be tough to spot due to their small size. The biggest adults will grow to be about 1/8 of an inch long. They have the ability to completely ruin any stored food and need to be removed to keep any home clean.
Pantry Pest Control
Eliminating a pantry pest infestation on your property will take a persistent effort to ensure that all infested food is cleaned up. Most pantry pest infestations will have spread to other food items by the time they are noticed. A careful inspection of each package of food must be done to decide whether it should be thrown away. Infestations of pantry pests have even been known to return after all infected foodstuffs had been removed. The expert technicians at South Shore IPM have experience handling all types of pantry pests. Call us to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pantry pests?
These are small insects that infest stored food products in kitchens and pantries. The most common include Indian meal moths and several species of beetles, such as sawtoothed grain beetles and red flour beetles. We help homeowners identify infestations and provide effective solutions to eliminate them.
How do pantry pests get into my home?
They usually enter your home inside packaged food that is already infested with eggs or larvae before you purchase it. Commonly affected items include flour, rice, cereal, pasta, nuts, pet food, spices, and baking ingredients. Once inside, they can spread to other stored foods if left untreated.
How can I tell if I have a pantry pest infestation?
Signs of an infestation include small moths flying around your kitchen, tiny beetles, larvae crawling inside food packages, webbing in dry food products, or damaged packaging. If you notice any of these signs, we can inspect and recommend the most effective treatment plan.
Do I need to throw away food contaminated by pantry pests?
Yes. Any food that shows signs of insects, larvae, eggs, or webbing should be discarded immediately. Even unopened packages stored near infested items should be carefully inspected. Thoroughly cleaning shelves and removing all contaminated food are essential steps in eliminating an infestation.
How can I prevent pantry pests from returning?
Store dry goods in airtight containers, inspect food packages before bringing them into your home, clean shelves regularly, and rotate older food products so they are used first. If they continue to reappear, we can identify the source of the infestation and provide professional treatments to help keep your home pest-free.