Pantry Pests

Pantry pests are unique pests that are often called stored product pests. They regularly feed on processed and dried food products hence the name. There is a chance that they’re going to infest the food products in your residence. They can feed on various products in your home, including crackers, bread, spices, powdered milk, flour, dried nuts, dried pet food, and dry pasta. While they won’t make you sick, the thought can be disgusting. Therefore, you’ll want to eliminate them promptly.

You can find other pantry pests in your area, but the most common are the cigarette beetles, Indian meal moths, and saw-toothed grain beetle. Unfortunately, this is one of the most difficult infestations you’ll deal with because the pests live in the food they eat. They have constant access to vital nutrients. As a result, they can breed around the clock. Before you know it, the small infestation will have significantly worsened. Rest assured knowing that a pantry pest infestation means nothing about your housekeeping or cleanliness.

Appearances

Knowing what pantry pests look like can make it easier to tackle a problem easy. Use the information below to determine whether you have pantry pests in your home.

Indian Meal Moths

Temecula CA residents regularly have to deal with Indian meal moths. Unfortunately, these pests are difficult to eliminate as adults. They’re small moths with multiple colors. They are reddish-brown and light gray. Once they’ve reached adulthood, they’re going to fly around your kitchen. However, you cannot ignore the larvae either because they’re responsible for damaging the food products in your home. They will consume numerous products in your residence.

Since it can be so difficult to eliminate these pests, it is wise to contact a professional. Doing so will ensure that you can rectify the problem swiftly and safely. Adult Indian meal moths will build cocoons in your home. Once you’ve found them, call our office.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles

You may find saw-toothed grain beetles in your residence. As the name suggests, these pests are going to have saw-like teeth. They’re on both sides of the thorax. The saw-toothed grain beetle can grow up to a tenth of an inch in length. They have flat, slender bodies and are brown. Although they look scary, you can sleep soundly knowing they’re not going to harm you. One issue associated with saw-toothed grain beetles is the fact that adults and larvae are going to damage the dried foods in your home.

They will target a variety of food products, including candy, cereal, flour, dried fruit, pet food, rodent bait, and bird seed. Again, they can reproduce rapidly so you’ll need to get rid of them quickly.

Cigarette Beetles

You’ll also encounter cigarette beetles. These pests have a humped back and grow up to an eighth of an inch. Since they have body hairs, they’re going to look fuzzy. They also have smooth wing covers. As you’ve likely already guessed, these pests prefer eating tobacco. They can consume cigars, cigarettes, and cured tobacco. However, they will target food products in your home too.

For instance, they can destroy wreaths, spices, nuts, cereals, candy, and pet food. Rest assured knowing that we can eliminate all these pantry pests for you. All you have to do is call our office to get started.

Reasons They’ve Invaded

Pantry pests are eager to enter your home for one reason. These pests want to feed on the dried food products in your residence. They can enter your home after you’ve visited the grocery store. The foods you’ve purchased may already be infested by pantry pests. In addition to this, it is common for pantry pests to enter a residence from the outside. Surprisingly, it only takes a few pantry pests to create a massive infestation in your home.

The problem is the fact that these pests are going to reproduce rapidly. You must eradicate the infestation before it worsens. Otherwise, you’re going to start finding moths around your home. They will also begin building cocoons. Learn how to identify the signs of an infestation so you can fix the problem right away.

Signs Of A Possible Pantry Pest Infestation

It is pertinent to learn how to identify a pantry pest infestation. Otherwise, you won’t realize that you have a problem until the infestation is severe. You can easily experiment with your food products to confirm an infestation sooner. Typically, most people don’t realize that they have a problem until they begin finding moths in their kitchens. However, you can find out sooner by testing the food.

Place the food in a clear, plastic bag and place it on your counter for a few weeks. If you find bugs in the bag, you have a pantry pest problem. Otherwise, your home is free of pantry pests.

Potential Health Hazards

You’re likely worried about pantry pests contaminating your food. Unfortunately, these pests primarily target food sources in residential and commercial structures. They want to enter your home for this purpose. If you have a pantry pest infestation, there is a good chance that you’re going to eat pantry pests or their eggs. It happens because the bugs are so difficult to see. Although this is disgusting, you’re not going to get sick. These pests don’t transmit illnesses. Therefore, they’re not as dangerous as rodents or cockroaches.

Still, nobody wants to eat a handful of pantry pests. Instead, you should contact our office so our professionals can remove these pests from your home right away.

Preventing Invasions Of Pantry Pests

Use the tips below to reduce the likelihood that pantry pests are going to enter your residence.

• First, make sure your dried food products are stored properly. Use durable containers that cannot be chewed through easily. For instance, you should never use cardboard or paper because the bugs will chew through these materials. Instead, use hard plastic or metal containers.
• Your pantry shelves must be cleaned on a regular basis. If pantry pests can find food in your home, they’re going to stay. Clean up your mess and get rid of potential food sources.
• When bringing home food from the grocery store, don’t combine it with old food. Instead, you should use new, clean containers for new food products.
• Are you concerned that one of your cereal boxes might have pantry pests? You can find out by testing the food in question. Pour the cereal into a plastic bag and place it on your counter. Wait for a month or so. If you find bugs in the bag, you have pantry pests.
• If you’re going to reuse old containers, clean them thoroughly first. Doing so prevents pantry pests from infesting new food products.

Effective Pantry Pest Elimination Techniques

Have you found pantry pests in your residence? It is time to find a viable solution so you can reclaim your home from these annoying pests. While there could be other ways to resolve the problem, we believe it is best to hire a professional exterminator. Although it may be expensive, it’ll be well worth it. With a professional’s assistance, you can guarantee that you’ll be able to resolve the problem swiftly and safely. Use the advice below to try to eliminate these pests on your own.

• Start by getting rid of any food that has been infested. Before throwing this food away, make sure it is properly sealed in a plastic bag. Doing this prevents the best from escaping and returning.
• Clear your pantry shelves. Remove everything so you can thoroughly clean the shelves. Be sure to vacuum the shelves to get rid of crumbs and leftovers. You’ll also remove eggs and pests. Dispose of the contents in a plastic bag and put the bag in your trash.
• Before reusing your pantry, wipe down the walls and shelves.

You can find certain over-the-counter pesticides designed to eliminate pantry pests. Nevertheless, it likely isn’t a good idea to use these methods because they could be dangerous. Remember that the chemicals are going to be used around your food sources. There is a risk that you’re going to expose yourself to harmful materials. Reconsider using OTC products because you may end up regretting this decision.

Timeline

We don’t want to waste any time. Call our office immediately. After your first call, we’re going to get back to you within 24 to 48 hours. We’ll do our best to resolve the problem swiftly.

Safer Solutions For Our Clients

Although our clients are ready to fix the problem, they don’t want to do something that they’re going to regret. We understand this and want to help. To do that, we’re going to provide our clients with access to highly effective, safe treatments. Our methods depend on EPA-approved techniques to ensure that everyone is going to be okay. Our EPA-approved products are safe around plants, people, and pets. We’ll discuss the necessary safety precautions with you before the treatment begins.

Preventing Pantry Pests From Entering Your Pantry

You should take steps to prevent future infestations of pantry pests. Otherwise, you’re going to deal with them over and over again. Ultimately, there is no guarantee that you’ll keep them out. However, you can minimize the risk of future infestations. Be careful when buying food from your local grocery store. Check the food to ensure it isn’t infested. You’ll also want to store your food in tough containers.

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