Pantry Pests

Pantry pests or stored product pests are household pests that consume many of the food products in your home. These pests primarily crave processed and dried foods. For instance, they’re going to consume dry pasta, powdered milk, crackers, spiders, bread, dried nuts, and flour. Once they’ve invaded your home, they’re going to enter your food packages and hide there. Since these pests hide and live in their food sources, they never have to stop eating or breeding.

Some common pantry pests include saw-toothed grain beetles, Indian meal moths, and cigarette beetles.

What Pantry Pests Look Like

Indian Meal Moths

Indian meal moths are common in your area. They are small moths that have multiple colors. For instance, they are white and gray near the front. On the back, they’re reddish-brown. The moths are difficult to eliminate, but you primarily need to worry about the larvae. They’re responsible for damaging the food products in your home. They’ll consume many of the processed and dried products found in your home. Once these pests invade your home, you’re going to find moths and cocoons in your kitchen and pantry.

Saw-Toothed Gain Beetles

Locals may encounter saw-toothed grain beetles too. These pests are roughly a tenth of an inch. They’re thin, brown, and flat. Plus, they have projections on both sides of their thorax. They look like saws. These pantry pests look unique. The adults and larvae will destroy the dried foods in your home. They will consume a variety of food products, including pet food, birdseed, flour, candy, dried fruit, cereal, and more.

Cigarette Beetles

These pantry pests are light brown and roughly an eighth of an inch. They have a humped back and smooth covers on their wings. Since they have body hairs, they look fuzzy. As you’ll guess from looking at the name, these pests consume tobacco products. For instance, they’ll eat cured tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. They will also eat food products found in your home. They’ll consume candy, pet food, nuts, and more.

Why Pantry Pests Invaded Your Dwelling

Although some people believe pantry pests are a sign that you haven’t cleaned your home enough, it isn’t true. In reality, pantry pests are brought into the home. You purchased a food product that contained Indian meal moths. When you did, you brought the pest home with you. An infestation will begin with a few pests and quickly spiral out of control. They reproduce swiftly so the problem won’t get better.

Pantry Pest Infestation Signs

Pantry pest infestations are difficult to identify. These pests hide in the foods they consume. They’re small and blend in with the food exceptionally well. Therefore, you won’t be able to spot them easily. If you know what you’re looking for, you’ll have a better chance. Most people won’t realize that they have a problem until they find moths flying around their kitchens.

Pantry Pest Health Concerns

Most pantry pests are not physically dangerous. They’re not going to bite you in the middle of the night. They won’t carry and transmit serious illnesses. These are things that you don’t have to worry about. It is common for consumers to eat and ingest pantry pests and pantry pest eggs. It might sound gross, but they won’t make you sick. Still, you’ll want to call us and get rid of them promptly.

Keeping Pantry Pests Out

You’ll want to use the following tips to keep pantry pests out of your dwelling.

• Properly store your food products using tightly sealed containers. These pests can chew through cardboard and paper so use something tougher.
• Your pantry shelves need to be cleaned regularly.
• Never add new food to containers with old foods.
• Always clean old food containers before using them again. If the food is infested, toss it out.

Thankfully, you can check food products to determine whether they’re infested. Put the food in a clear, plastic bag and let it sit for a month or so. If you can see bugs in the bag, you have pantry pests.

Tackling A Pantry Pest Infestation

Getting rid of pantry pests isn’t easy, but you can do it. You may contemplate experimenting with do-it-yourself products and techniques. They can help, but they may not wipe out the infestation. If this is the case, the pests will return. With that being said, you can try using the tips below to get rid of the infestation.

• Get rid of any food product that contains pantry pests.
• Remove the food products and packages from your pantry shelves. Clean the pantry and vacuum the shelves. Dispose of the vacuum’s content in a plastic bag.
• Clean the shelves and walls thoroughly.

Be cautious when experimenting with DIY methods because some pesticides are dangerous.

When Can Your Exterminator Begin?

Contact our Findlay office to talk to a qualified professional. We’ll call you back shortly.

Our Techs Protect You

Our technicians are properly trained to protect you every step of the way. They incorporate the use of EPA-registered products to keep everyone safe. If you’re worried about your health, use our services. When you do, you won’t need to worry about the health risks involved. The methods we use are safe for everyone.

Preventing Pantry Pests From Invading Your Home

It is difficult to prevent them from invading. Make sure that you check your food products before bringing them inside. If you do that, you may be able to stop an infestation from occurring.

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