Pantry Pests

Stored product pests are also referred to as pantry pests. These pests thrive by consuming processed and dried food that they find in your home. For instance, they will accept powdered milk, crackers, spices, bread, fruit, nuts, and other products. The term is used to describe a wide assortment of pests, but the most common include Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles, and saw-toothed grain beetles.

Pantry pests hide and live in their food sources. As a result, they can breed constantly. You can experience a pantry pest problem even though you’ve cleaned your home every hour.

Appearances Of Pantry Pests

Indian Meal Moths

These pantry pests are small moths that feature several colors. For instance, their forewings are reddish-brown, but their back half is coppery. The front half is white and gray. The Indian meal moth larvae will destroy the food products in your home. They can consume various dried food products.

Once they’ve become established in your home, the Indian meal moths will build cocoons throughout your home.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles

These beetles are slim, flat, and brown. They’re roughly a tenth of an inch in length and have saw-like teeth. Adult saw-toothed grain beetles and their larvae consume dried food products. They can consume a wide assortment of food products, including dried fruit and candy. They often eat pet food and rodent bait.

Cigarette Beetles

Cigarette beetles love consuming cured tobacco and other tobacco products. They’re light brown and grow up to an eighth of an inch. They’re unique because they have humped backs and smooth wings. However, they are fuzzy thanks to their body hairs. Cigarette beetles will also feed on wreaths and spices.

Reasons For Pantry Pests

Pantry pests are generally brought into homes. When someone purchased a package of food at the store, there is a risk that the package contains pantry pests. If it does, the pests will enter the home when you return. They may enter a home from the outside, but this is less common. A few pantry pests can quickly create a full-blown infestation in your home. Again, they can breed and reproduce around the clock since they live within their food source.

Signs Of Pantry Pest Infestations

Homeowners often overlook the signs of pantry pest infestations because they’re small and hard to see. You’ll need to look at your food packages carefully. When doing so, you may find small bugs crawling around inside. You’ll find small moths circulating around those food sources too. If you turn on your lights, the moths will likely fly toward them.

Dangers Of Pantry Pests

On the surface, pantry pests are not dangerous. They do not bite or sting. Plus, they’re not known to spread dangerous illnesses. People have ingested these insects and their eggs without getting sick. They are not known to carry dangerous pathogens.

Still, you’ll want to eliminate them because they’ll destroy your favorite foods. Get rid of them or you’ll have to replace your food products regularly.

Preventing Infestations Of Pantry Pests

Use the tips below to keep pantry pests out of your home.

• Store your food products in suitable containers. Never use materials they can chew through such as cardboard or paper. Make sure that the lid fits and secures.
• Remove all of the items from the pantry shelves and clean them thoroughly.
• When you buy new food products, store them in new containers. Never mix them with old products.
• Clean used containers before using them for new food products.

Remember that you can test to see if a food product is infested. Do that by putting the food in a plastic bag and setting it aside. If it is pest-free in a month, you’re likely good to go. If you find pests in the bag, dispose of the bag.

Eradicating The Infestation

Since pantry pests are hard to identify, they’re difficult to eliminate. It doesn’t help that some DIY methods aren’t always effective. They might help, but some might not. Use the advice below to get rid of the pests in your pantry.

• Get rid of infested items immediately. Toss them into a plastic bag and throw the bag away.
• Clean your pantry shelves thoroughly. Remove all items from the pantry shelves and clean the shelves.
• Don’t forget to wash the walls in your pantry.

Some OTC products kill pantry pests, but some do not. Therefore, you do not want to gamble with your money or health. Eliminate the pests by working with one of our qualified exterminators. We offer free inspections and low-cost services. Call today.

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Schedule an appointment with us today. Someone with our office will contact you within 48 hours or earlier.

Safer Solutions

We can eliminate pantry pests while minimizing the risks involved. We’ll keep you safe during each phase of the pantry pest extermination. The EPA-registered products deployed by our exterminators do not pose a risk to humans or animals. Nevertheless, they can effectively wipe out the infestation you’re dealing with. Either way, you can rest assured knowing that our skilled exterminators will keep you safe.

Avoiding Pantry Pest Problems

One of the best ways to handle pantry pests is by keeping them out. If you can do that, you don’t need to use our services. Check the food products you purchase before putting them on your pantry shelves. Be sure that your food products are stored in airtight, durable containers.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.