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Pantry Pests

Table of Contents

What Is A Pantry Pest?

  • A pantry pest “stored product pest” is a small insect that invades homes to feast on available processed food.
  • A pantry pest that consumes processed food, such as dried cereal, nuts, crackers, fruit, pasta, and pet food.
  • A pantry pest is a variety of insect species like the cigarette and saw-toothed grain beetles and the Indian meal moth, all of which invade homes to access safe shelter, processed food, and other essentials.
  • A pantry pest continuously reproduces as long as there is a plentiful processed food source. Within a year, a pantry pest can reproduce multiple generations of insects.
  • A pantry pest does not target untidy homes. The insect does not have a home preference, just one that offers the essentials.

Why Are The Most Notable Characteristics Of A Pantry Pest?

Indian Meal Moth Pantry Pest Species

  • The Indian meal moth, also known as Plodia interpunctella, is a tiny moth with brownish-red forewings. The front of the body is grayish-white while the back is shiny copper.
  • The larvae are the most destructive of all the Indian meal moth species.
  • The Indian meal moth is notorious for its escape techniques, which make them extremely difficult to fully eradicate. They will crawl on the ceiling upside down to escape doom. They spend hours spinning cocoons for their young.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle Pantry Pest Species

  • The saw-toothed grain beetle species is also known as Oryzaephilus surinamensis. These tiny insects have a slender, flat body with thorax projections that replicate teeth on a traditional hand saw. They measure approximately 1/10” in length.
  • The adult and larvae consumed processed food
  • The saw-tooth grain beetle species is a processed food scavenger, consuming dried cereal, pasta, and fruit every chance they get. They are also notable for contaminating accessible processed food sources.

Cigarette Beetle Pantry Pest Species

  • A cigarette beetle, also known as Ladioderma serricorne, has a light brown body that measures about 1/8” in length. The back is hump-shaped. The wings are smooth while the body is covered with a fuzz of tiny hairs.
  • While a pantry pest, the cigarette beetle species consumes tobacco products, such as a cigarette, chewing tobacco, cigar, and snuff. The diet also consists of processed foods and spices, such as paprika, pepper, and chili powder.

Why Is My Home Infested With Pantry Pests?

  • Pantry pests target all homes with outdoor access points that lead indoors and the essentials. They can also access a building structure through other means, such as contaminated food packages.
  • Pantry pest infestations generally begin with a handful of insects, growing rapidly into a large colony when processed food sources are readily available.
  • Pantry pests are constantly reproducing when food sources are readily available.

What Are The Common Signs Of A Pantry Pest Infestation?

  • Damaged processed food packages in kitchen cupboards, cabinets, and drawers.
  • Tiny swarms of insects in close proximity of processed food boxes, bright lights, and tobacco products.

Are Pantry Pest Infestations Harmful To Humans?

  • Pantry pests do not pose health risks but their feces does. Cigarette and saw-toothed grain beetles and Indian meal moth pantry pests do not pose a health risk to humans or animals.
  • Pantry pest feces can contaminate processed food sources.
  • Pantry pest eggs do not pose a health risk when consumed by humans. They are not known to carry or spread diseases to humans or animals.

How Is It Possible To Prevent Pantry Pest Infestations?

  • Inspecting all food packages before storing them away. Store all processed food in containers with lids. Avoid plastic bags, boxes, and other vulnerable storage containers.
  • Routinely clean out kitchen cabinets, cubbyholes, and cupboards. Vacuum up crumbs to discourage pantry pest infestations.
  • Toss outdated processed food in a waste bin. Never mix outdated with fresh processed food.
  • Inspect processed food before each use, looking for signs of movement. Pantry pests will infiltrate food packages every chance they get.
  • Utilize dish detergent and tap water to wash and rinse food containers between each use.

How To Eradicate Pantry Pests Quickly And Easily?

Eradicating pantry pest infestations is far from being easy. In fact, these are some of the most difficult pest infestations to fully eradicate. However, with the right pest control treatment and the homeowner’s help, our exterminators can get the job done in as little as two treatments. DIY pest control is not always the best option for pantry pest eradication.

If you opt to go DIY, we recommend the following steps:

  • Properly dispose of contaminated processed food sources
  • Clean out kitchen cabinets and cupboards at least once or month. Utilize a vacuum to remove what may be pantry pest feces, eggs, and other debris.
  • Wash down walls and ceilings inside your kitchen cabinets at least once a month

Read the manufacturer’s recommendations before administering over-the-counter pest control products to avoid potential health and damage risks. Do not utilize these products until the impacted home is vacant. Get more pantry pest control tips by contacting our local office in Indianapolis, Indiana. We always have someone on standby to answer your pest control questions, schedule your home for a free inspection, and create a strategy specific for your pantry pest infestation.

When Should I Expect The Exterminator To Arrive At My Home?

We generally dispatch an exterminator out to the client’s home within 24 to 48 hours of an initial pest control request.

Is Pantry Pest Pest Control Pesticides Harmful Or Safe?

Chemical-based pesticides contain toxins that pose health risks to humans, the environment, plants, and animals when utilized improperly. To avoid these risks, we hire the best exterminators in the Indiana pest control industry. We also utilize a selection of pesticides approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

How Is It Possible To Prevent Future Pantry Pest Infestations?

It is possible through dedication, patience, and a powerful pest control strategy. We will pair you with a qualified pantry pest infestation expert to create a pest control strategy that will offer 100 percent effectiveness in as little as two treatments.

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

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