How do you prevent pantry pests?

Finding pests in your food storage areas can be incredibly upsetting. Many bugs can spread serious infectious diseases, and eating food contaminated by pantry pests can be quite harmful. Since we don't shift the contents of our pantries and cupboards very often, they are particularly vulnerable to insect infestation. 

Where do pantry pests come from and what attracts them?

Pantry pest comes from and are attracted to your kitchen due to:

1. Filthy pantry
2. Grocery stores

The first reason is that your pantry isn't kept clean and tidy. By leaving the food that attracts pantry pests exposed, you unwittingly invite them in. Cracks in your walls or doors allow these pests to access your home. The second reason is that pantry bugs infiltrate your home via the food or groceries you purchase. Pantry insect infestations in food storage facilities are prevalent.

Food products in production units and storage facilities can be infested by pantry bugs before they reach your home. However, this does not imply that food contaminated with pantry pests is stale. Pantry bugs can infest any food, regardless of how long it has been stored.

What food products are at risk?

Here is a list of the most common food items infested by pantry pests: 

• All sorts of spices, excluding chili powder
• Any kind of beans
• Biscuits and cookies
• Cereals
• Chocolate
• Cornmeal
• Dry bird food
• Dry fruits like almonds, raisins, cashew, etc.
• Dry pet food
• Flour mix
• Fruits
• Noodles
• Powder Milk
• Processed meat, fish, and chicken
• Rice
• Spaghetti
• Tea and coffee
• Wheat

When these commodities are kept open, pantry pests can infest them. They can even get to these meals if kept in a thin container, such as a light cardboard box. They can swiftly dig their way through flimsy stacked containers and infest the food inside. Pantry bugs reproduce and lay eggs in contaminated food, leading them to spread. Food bugs of all ages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) can be found in one contaminated container.

Common Pantry Pests Found in Homes in Canada

The most likely culprit for holes gnawed into your food containers is the typical house mouse. They enjoy nibbling on grains and are particularly fond of sweet or fatty foods such as cereal, cookies, and cheese. A reputable pest control firm can assist you in getting rid of them. 

However, when we talk about pantry pests, we are talking about the small bugs that might infest leftover baking ingredients, dry cereals, and other products. These nasty crawlies aren't exactly rare. The following list includes the most frequent insects detected in stored foods:

Indianmeal Moths

With a wingspan of 10-15 mm, these little moths have a striking appearance. They have purplish-brown forewings with faint yellowish buff bases and grayish-white hindwings. The larvae have reddish-brown or yellowish-brown heads and are white to yellow. Keep your food in airtight jars or containers to prevent Indian Meal moths from laying eggs on it. Also, kill these moths if you spot them flying around your house.

Beetles

Sawtoothed grain beetles, drugstore beetles, cigarette beetles, flour beetles, warehouse beetles, and spider beetles are among the variety of insects that can be found in your kitchen. They all range in length from 1/8 to 3/16 inch, are flattened, and dark cherry to dark brown, with increasingly clubbed antennae and a three-segmented club. They are also known to be able to fly. The flour beetle is the most frequent bug seen in many homes. They infest all types of flour as well as shelled nuts, grains, etc.

Weevils

Rice weevils and bean weevils are the two types of weevils that can infest your pantry. Rice weevils resemble beetles. However, they are more slender and longer. Rice weevils have a reddish-brown to black elongated oval-shaped body with circular pits on the thorax. They are strong flyers with four yellow or red markings on the corners of their forewings. Rice weevil larvae are grub-like organisms with no legs.

They have a black head capsule and a delicate cream-colored body.
Rice weevil larvae are whitish, legless, and wrinkled, and they live inside the kernels of seeds. It is impossible to spot them because of this. If you notice any holes in the grains, there's a good chance that rice weevil larvae are present. Rice weevils can be found in rice, corn, wheat, cereals, dried fruits, and fruits such as apples and pears. Check for rice weevils in large sacks of grain purchased from supermarket stores. 

Bean weevils have a light olive tint, with darker shades evident on the wings. Legs are ruddy, with spiky protrusions on the hind legs. The bean weevil's antennae are also crimson in hue. Bean weevils are primarily found in dried beans and peas. Their little, blackish-spotted wings reveal a small portion of their belly, and their legs are visible.

Ants

Ants are a common annoyance in many households and they are voracious eaters. They have a sweet tooth and will eat not only the sweets in your house, but also dry foods such as biscuits, cookies, and even dried fruits. Carpenter ants are the most prevalent ants (black). They usually appear towards the start of the summer or after the spring.

Cockroaches

Since the beginning of time, cockroaches have infested kitchens. Cockroaches, which are classified as pests rather than bugs, are one of those pests that are easy to attract but difficult to eradicate. They are nocturnal and will eat everything they can get their hands on. It makes no difference to the roaches whether the meal is dry or moist.

Signs of an Infestation

In many circumstances, you won't realize you have pantry bugs until you try to eat the items they have claimed. Small brown beetles, worms, or moths may be found on your work tables, on cabinet shelves, and in any cracks or crevices near your food storage.

Discoloration of flour, small holes in packages and grains, flour and grain mold, and tiny flour tracks generated by insects migrating between food sources are some of the more subtle indicators. If you notice anything like this, you must investigate your pantry and the items inside thoroughly. Insects can eat through paper, cardboard, and foil if driven enough. Even unopened products can get infested.

How do you prevent a pantry pest infestation?

Before you buy

When you go grocery shopping, don't buy food in large quantities. Instead, buy only what you will use and consume in a short period. This will ensure that food does not remain in your cupboard for an extended period, making it vulnerable to infestation. Before you buy something, inspect it. We are not suggesting that you open a box of cereal you haven't even bought yet. Nevertheless, you can check for indicators of suspected infestation or contamination by looking for broken or pierced package seals.

Inspect Food Packages Stored in the Pantry

Check for pests in all of the food packaging in your pantry and cupboards. Weevils and grain beetles are little black or brown bugs. Indian food moths have brown or bronze wings and are gray. Also, keep an eye out for moth larvae’s silk webbing. Pay close attention to flour, rice, and other grain-derived items containers.

Remember that pests may not be easy to spot straight away, so check the contents of packages by stirring them around or emptying them onto a baking sheet. Though a package may be seemingly sealed, many pantry bugs can get into your food by squeezing through tiny openings.

Store food properly

Non-infested goods should be kept in tightly closed glass, ceramic, or hard plastic containers. You can avoid pantry bug infestations by removing them from their original packing. Susceptible foods can also be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Clean your pantry regularly, sweep up crumbs and spills as soon as they occur, and discard old food that you don't want. Then get rid of any old, unused food you don't want.

Hire a Pest Control Professional

Pantry bugs can wreak havoc on food and kitchens. Pest control is necessary to ensure your peace of mind and minimize damage. Exterminators can assist you in eliminating pests by providing expert guidance and assistance before, during, and after the process.

The following services are provided by V Extermination:

• Effective and successful vermin control
• Management of wildlife (capture and relocation)
• Security service for your peace of mind from the outside
• Work that is both rapid and efficient every day of the week

Contact us now if you have noticed signs of damage and want to get rid of your pantry infestation.

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