Pantry Pest Control
There are 2 types of pantry pests! First are the ones with 2 legs that swarm the pantry the same time daily – about 4 pm when they get home from school!
Type 1 – Two Legged Pantry Invaders
They generally can be heard giggling or bickering over a particular snack.
After all those long grueling days spent in a learning institution, they are sure to be rewarded with a snack.
By the time they’re done, there is no mistaking WHO was there. All those neatly lined shelves are no longer!
Type 2 – Uninvited Pantry Invaders
Then there are the other swarms that also raid the pantry but are very quiet about it. You will never hear them bickering. They also make a mess that is oftentimes not seen until that bag of flour is opened for baking.
These pests are unwanted and uninvited! Time for the eviction process. The little bugs eating up the pantry must go!
What exactly is considered pantry pests and why? Well, the ‘why’ is easy – it’s because they are happy to eat the items in your pantry!
Most Common Pantry Invaders
- Indian Meal Moths: Known to infest cereal, cornmeal, rice, chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, and candies.
- Warehouse Beetles: Commonly found in cereal, candy, cocoa, flour, pasta, potato chips, and pet foods.
- Sawtoothed Grain Beetles: These beetles generally infest flour, stock, poultry feeds, dried fruits, candies, rodent bait, pet food, and bird seed.
- Confused Flour Beetle: Often found in flour, cereal, shelled nuts, chocolate, drugs, and dried fruits.
- Red Flour Beetles: Known to infest flour, candies, cereal, chocolate, dried fruits, and damaged grains.
- Cigarette Beetles: These beetles typically infest cured tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars. They can also be found in pet foods, fish food, chili powder, and paprika.
- Drug Store Beetles: These pests infest seeds, pet foods, spices, pastry mixes, and drugs.
Tips for Pantry Pest Control
Interestingly most of these pests are unintentionally invited in by us!
They came already packaged with some of the items you purchase, usually in the form of eggs or larvae. Putting these items in a freezer for 72 hours can help to eliminate many of these pantry pest control problems.
However, if an infestation is found, remove the items from the home immediately and clean the spills well, making sure to get the corners and cracks of the shelves.
Unfortunately, the infestation often isn’t found until you open the package to use the contents. Make sure that the items stored for long periods are rotated and used or stored in a freezer to protect your investment.
If you are having continued problems and need help, call your trusted pest management team at Croach® for assistance.
Free Pest Inspection