Pantry Pest Identification
What Are Pantry Pests?
Insects that inhabit our stored foods are called pantry pests. Pantry pests feed and breed on dry goods and other pantry items stored in kitchens, restaurants, pharmacies, and food storage or processing facilities. Adult female pantry pests lay their eggs on suitable food sources. After the eggs hatch, larvae emerge to feed on the provided food source that is all around them. While feeding, the larvae further contaminate the food with saliva, excrement, and shed skins.
Stored foods regularly infested by pests like Indian meal moths, drug store beetles, crazy head beetles, sock tooth grain beetles, flour beetles, and grain beetles include the following:
- Flour, cake mix, cornmeal, rice, and dried noodles
- Crackers and cookies
- Nuts, chocolate, raisins, and other dried fruits
- Spices and tea
- Powdered milk
- Beans and seeds
- Cured meats
Are Pantry Pests Dangerous?
The biggest concern with pantry pests is the food waste they create. These small insects contaminate a far greater quantity of food than they consume. Any food contaminated by these pests, from a small bag of rice to a silo of corn, needs to be discarded. As you can imagine, these pests can cause a significant finical impact to both home and business owners.
Why Do I Have a Pantry Pest Problem?
Pantry pests usually become a problem inside a home in one of two ways:
- Adults move inside of your home on their own. Many are attracted to lights and will get in through openings around windows and doors that they discover. Once inside, the females will look for a suitable place to lay their eggs, usually in your pantry items.
- We accidentally introduce pantry pests into our homes through goods purchased from places like the grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and pet stores already infested with their eggs or larvae.
Where Will I Find Pantry Pests?
Many people discover they have a problem with pantry pests after seeing adults that have emerged from stored foods flying around their home or crawling around on walls.
Pantry pests are most likely to be found in damaged packaging (torn, ripped, partially opened). They can also wiggle their way into unopened packaging through seams or thin cardboard or paper. Food products stored for long periods are most prone to infestation, but foods of any age can be targeted by these pests.
How Do I Get Rid Of Pantry Pests?
Pantry pests don’t belong in any of our Northwest Arkansas kitchens or pantries. Get pantry pests out and keep them out with the help of the experts at Rumble Pest Solutions of Arkansas and our modern and effective pest control solutions. Our quarterly pest control services work to identify and eliminate current pest problems and prevent future pests from becoming an issue inside your home.
At Rumble Pest Solutions of Arkansas, our mission is to protect your family, your home, and the environment. We want to give you peace of mind in knowing your most important assets are being protected! To learn more about our effective residential and commercial pest control solutions, reach out to us today!
How Can I Prevent Pantry Pests In The Future?
The following tips will help you prevent pantry pests from taking over your home’s kitchen and pantry:
- Do not purchase dry goods with rips or tears. Damaged packing makes it much easier for pests to cause an infestation.
- If possible, avoid buying dry goods in bulk at grocery stores and pet stores.
- Take dry goods out of the original packaging and place them in plastic or glass containers with airtight lids.
- Keep dry pet food in metal or plastic containers with locking lids.
- Stop adult pantry pests from finding a way into your home by sealing openings around windows and doors.
- Regularly check the inspection dates of pantry items and discard any items that have expired.
Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.
Call us today our Springdale, AK location (479) 349-2560, Springfield, MO Location (417) 551-6081, or our Jefferson City, MO Location 573-508-0277
Yvette“Very nice and knowledgeable!!”