Pantry Pests

What are pantry pests? First and foremost, pantry pests are also referred to as stored product pests. They prefer hiding in the processed food products in your home. They will climb into your cereal boxes and flour bags. They like to eat powdered milk, crackers, spices, birdseed, fruit, cornstarch, and dry pet food.

Remember that the term pantry pests covers a handful of species. Nevertheless, the most common pantry pests include the Indian meal bow, cigarette beetle, and saw-tooth grain beetle. Since they live in the food products they eat, pantry pests will breed continuously. Sadly, this makes them a bigger problem than you could ever imagine.

Despite having pantry pests in your home, it doesn’t mean that your home is nasty.

Common Pantry Pests

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle

Saw-toothed grain beetles grow roughly 1/10th of an inch and have six tooth projections that resemble saws. They’re located on each side of the thorax. Their bodies are slender and flat. Adult beetles and their larvae will feed on dried food products found in your home. They will eat cereal, dried fruit, flour, and other household items. Saw-toothed grain beetles will also consume pet food, birdseed, and rodent bait.

Indian Meal Moth

These small moths have reddish-brown forewings. Their back part is coppery, while the front half is white or gray. Adult Indian meal moths will not damage your food, but the larvae will. They will target various dried food products in your home. Unfortunately, Indian meal moths are very problematic because they are hard to eliminate. They will develop cocoons throughout your home, crawl on your ceilings, and turn your life upside down.

Cigarette Beetle

These beetles are light brown, and most are roughly 1/8th of an inch. They have a humped back with smooth wing covers. Their body hairs make them look fuzzy. As the name implies, cigarette beetles prefer eating cured tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. Nevertheless, they will also eat food in your home, including nuts, candy, cereal, and pet food. They’ll infest your spices and powders.

Why Does My Home Have Pantry Pests?

Most pantry pests are brought in through the packaged food products you purchased. However, there is always a risk that you’ve let them come into your home. A few insects will enter your home and find suitable shelter. After that, they will begin reproducing rapidly. You have to act quickly because they will reproduce and spiral out of control faster than you could ever imagine.

Since these pests reside in their food sources, they are going to breed and reproduce continuously.

What Are Signs Of A Pantry Pest Infestation?

It is easy to overlook an infestation since most pests blend in with their food. If you’re worried that you have pantry pests, you should look for small moths around your food packages. Besides being attracted to food sources, they’ll also fly near bright lights.

Are Pantry Pests Dangerous?

Ultimately, most pantry pests are not dangerous. They are not going to bite or attack humans. Still, you have to realize that these pests are going to spoil your food. They will leave waste in your cereal and spices. You’ll need to replace these items and that can be very expensive. It is best to get rid of pantry pests as soon as possible.

Can I Prevent Future Pantry Pest Infestations?

Since pantry pests can survive in packaged food, you cannot completely prevent future infestations. There are ways to reduce the risks though. For instance, you’ll want to store dry food in air-tight containers. Pantry pest larvae can chew through paper and cardboard. Once they’ve done that, they will target other packages. Using air-tight containers is the best way to prevent them from spreading.

Also, clean your pantries regularly. You should never combine old food with new food since this could infest the new food too. If you’re worried that a bag of food is infested, you should take it and place it in a clear plastic bag. Wait a bit and see if pests accumulate. If they do, the food is infested.

Before refilling food containers, you should clean them thoroughly.

How Can I Eliminate Pantry Pests In My Home?

Sadly, it can be hard to get rid of pantry pests in your home. These pests are not fast or agile, but they know how to hide. They blend in with their food exceptionally well. As a result, you’ll have a tough time identifying an infestation. Furthermore, you should know that DIY remedies are not always effective. The best way to deal with pantry pests is by following the tips below.

• Get rid of infested food items. Be sure to place them in a sealed plastic bag before throwing them in the trash.
• Take everything out of your pantry and clean the pantry thoroughly. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the pests and eggs. The vacuum bag should be placed in a sealed beg before being thrown in the trash.
• Once you’ve finished the steps above, you’ll want to wash your shelves, walls, and pantry. Then, you can add items to your pantry again.

Unfortunately, many over-the-counter pesticides are not effective and some are harmful. Therefore, it is dangerous to use these products in your home. If you’re worried that your home has pantry pests, you should contact us.

When Can You Get Started?

Our company is ready to help. We can reach your home in 24 to 48 hours.

Is Your Treatment Safe?

We strive to provide our Denver clients with safe and effective treatment options. When dealing with pantry pests, we always use products registered with the EPA. Plus, our technicians are trained thoroughly to guarantee safe, effective results.

How Can I Stop Future Infestations?

It is pertinent to be careful when bringing food packages into your home. You’ll want to analyze them carefully to make sure that they’re not infested with pantry pests. Also, make sure that your store all food items in air-tight containers. Spend time cleaning your pantry and you can rest assured knowing that everything will be okay.

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