Pantry Pests

We often must deal with pantry pests in Raleigh NC. These pests are also referred to as stored product pests. Unfortunately, pantry pests are common in our area. Therefore, you may encounter them at some point. Once this happens, take steps to deal with the problem promptly. We’re here to help. Pantry pests attack an assortment of food products, including cereal, dry pet food, cornstarch, crackers, spices, birdseed, bread, and more. Once they’ve invaded your residence, they’re going to have access to tons of food products. One thing to know about these pests is the fact that they’re going to breed around the clock.

They hide in the food they consume. Therefore, they never have to stop breeding.

Identifying Pantry Pests

You need to learn how to identify pantry pests. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to fix the problem sooner. Below, you’ll learn about the appearances of the most common pantry pests in our area.

Indian Meal Moths

First, you’re going to encounter Indian meal moths. These moths are small and difficult to eliminate. They have multiple colors, including coppery on the back and a combination of white and gray on the front. They also have reddish-brown forewings. The moths will build cocoons around your kitchen and pantry. As for the larvae, they’re going to damage the food products in your home.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles

Saw-toothed grain beetles are flat and brown with a slender body. They can grow up to a tenth of an inch. They have tooth projections on each side of their thorax. They use their tooth projections to tear through your food products. These pests are going to feed on many of your food products, including cereal, flour, candy, fruit, and more. These beetles and their larvae will damage your food products.

Cigarette Beetles

As the name suggests, cigarette beetles want to consume tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. They’re only an eighth of an inch with a humped back. Since they have body hairs, they look fuzzy. Besides consuming tobacco products, they’re also going to consume cereal, nuts, pet food, candy, and more.

Reasons For Pantry Pests

Pantry pests tend to sneak into homes by hiding in food packages. Some of the products in your local grocery store will contain pantry pests. You likely won’t know it right away, but the bag could contain these pests. Therefore, you might bring them home with you. An infestation can start with a few pests before worsening quickly. These pests living in their favorite food sources so they’re going to breed constantly.

Common Signs Of Pantry Pests

It is pertinent to learn how to identify pantry pests in your home. Once you’ve found out how to do this, they’ll be ready to identify and fix the problem much sooner. Generally, people won’t identify pantry pest infestations until they find bugs around their food packages. Be sure to look for moths and beetles.

Dangers Linked To Pantry Pests

You’re likely concerned that the pantry pests in your home are going to make people sick. Ultimately, pantry pests are usually not dangerous. They don’t bite or sting. You’re not going to get sick if you swallow them. Therefore, saw-toothed grain beetles, cigarette beetles, and Indian meal moths are not dangerous. The primary problem is that these pests are going to damage your food products. You’ll have to replace the food they contaminate so the costs are going to add up quickly.

Preventing Future Pantry Pest Infestations

You need to do what you can to stop pantry pests from invading your home. Follow the advice below to avoid potential problems.

• Don’t leave your food products exposed. Store them in containers to avoid problems. Doing so will prevent pantry pests from accessing the food.
• Try cleaning your pantry and shelves several times each week.
• Do not combine new food with old foods. Doing so will cause both to become infested.
• Always clean your food containers before using them again.

Remember that you can always check to see if a food product is infested. Place the food product into a plastic bag and wait. After a month or so, you’ll know if the bag has pantry pests. You’ll find the bugs in the bag. If the bag doesn’t have pests, you’re okay.

Eliminating A Pack Of Pantry Pests

Once you’ve found that your food products contain pantry pests, begin working to get rid of them. The easiest way to fix the problem is by calling our office. We’ll get rid of them for you right away. If you intend to do it on your own, use the tips below.

• Get rid of any food products that contain pantry pests.
• Thoroughly clean your pantry and its shelves regularly. Use your vacuum to clean up any food leftovers and eggs you find. Place the contents in a plastic bag before getting rid of it.
• Finally, be sure to clean the walls and shelves of your pantry.

You can try using over-the-counter pesticides. However, many of these products aren’t reliable. Some of them are unsafe. For the best results, pick up the phone and call our office. We’re going to work hard until the problem is dealt with.

When Can Someone Get Here?

We’re here to begin helping you. Call our office so we can contact you back within 48 hours.

Our Treatments Are Safe

Our technicians are going to keep you safe. They’ll use the safest treatment options to guarantee that everyone is going to be okay. They follow precise protocols to ensure that everyone is protected. Plus, we only use EPA-registered products. Therefore, you can sleep soundly knowing you’ll be safe. Contact us to learn more about the steps we take to protect you.

Preventing Pantry Pests From Invading

It is vital to stop these pests from invading your home. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy. These pests tend to hide in food products at local stores. When you buy a pack of crackers or bread, there is a risk that the pack is going to contain pantry pests. If it does, you’ll bring them home with you. Carefully check the bag to avoid issues.

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