Pantry Pests Identification & Prevention

Pantry pests are insects (weevils, beetles, moths) that live and breed inside whole or processed dry goods. These pests can become an issue anywhere food is stored or prepared and are a common problem inside homes or businesses.

In order to complete its life cycle, the female pantry pest lays its eggs on top of an appropriate food source. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the food provided. Examples of food that the pantry pest regularly contaminates are bread, flour, cereal, crackers, dried pasta, dried spices, herbs, dried fruit, chocolate, and dry pet food.

Getting ready for a day of baking or cooking can be quickly ruined after discovering bugs or evidence of bug activity in your stored dry goods. The immediate solution is to throw out the infested food; then, you need to reach out to a professional home pest control expert for the long-term control of these fast-breeding, hard-to-control pests.

While pantry pests don't pose significant dangers to people, we need to control their numbers to prevent them from contaminating our food and creating costly food waste.

Pantry pests enter our homes in several ways, usually without being noticed. A pantry pest infestation can start by bringing already-infested items into your home from the store. In addition to hitchhiking, pantry pests can find their way into our homes on their own. Many adult pantry pests are attracted to lights and gather around our home's exterior windows and doors, moving inside through any cracks and gaps they encounter. 

Pantry pests can potentially find their way into any structure where food is stored or prepared. Our homes, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, pet stores, and food storage and processing facilities are places pantry pests regularly invade.

Inside our houses, pantry pests most commonly infest kitchens and pantries. Pantry pest larvae and eggs live inside the packages of dry goods. Adults hang out around windows, on walls, or around light fixtures; if you regularly spot moths or beetles in your home, you likely have a pantry pest infestation.

If you discover pantry pests in your home, it is natural to want them removed from your as quickly as possible. Here at Combat Pest Control, we provide fast, effective pest control to get rid of pantry pests and other household pests from Plymouth area homes. We want to help you keep the food stored within your home safe from these food-contaminating pests. For more information about our environmentally safe residential pest control or commercial pest control services, please get in touch with us today.

Use the following prevention tips to keep pantry pests out of your Massachusetts home:

• Place dry goods in hard-sided containers with airtight lids to keep pantry pests out of your family's stored foods.
• Always inspect the packaging of the food you are purchasing from the store; never buy items with torn or otherwise damaged packaging. 
• Maintain a clean kitchen. Keep surfaces and the shelves of cabinets and pantries free of crumbs and other food debris.
• Regularly go through your stored food and discard expired items. 
• Inspect your windows, doors, and outdoor lights, sealing any gaps or cracks you discover.

The best way to prevent issues with pantry pests and other common household intruders now and in the future is to partner with us at Combat Pest Control. Call today to learn about pantry pest control in Plymouth.