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Stored product pests include a handful of pests. They going to enter your home and consume dried and processed food products. For instance, these pests are going to consume flour, dry pasta, dry pet food, powdered milk, crackers, spices, and more. The term is used to describe several pests with the most common being Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles, and saw-toothed grain beetles. These pests are frequently found in kitchens and pantries.
Pantry pests can breed constantly because they live in their food source. In general, they can make several new generations each year.
Pantry Pest Looks
You’ll want to learn more about the appearances of pantry pests. They’ll be explored in greater depth below.
Indian Meal Moths
Indian meal moths are small moths with several colors. For instance, they have reddish-brown forewings. The other half is coppery. Although the moths are problematic, the larvae are going to damage the food products in your home. They can destroy a wide assortment of food products in your home. Indian meal moths are difficult to eliminate. Once they’ve invaded, they’re going to build cocoons on your ceiling.
Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles
Saw-toothed grain beetles are roughly a tenth of an inch so they’re smaller than the others. They are slender and flat. Plus, they have saw-like teeth on both sides of their thorax. One issue with these pantry pests is that larvae and adults will consume dried food products in your home. They can consume numerous products in your home including pet food, birdseed, rodent bait, and dried fruit.
Cigarette Beetles
Cigarette beetles are another common pantry pest. They’re roughly an eighth of an inch and they’re light brown. They have a humped back with smooth wings. Since they have body hairs, they look fuzzy. These pests prefer consuming tobacco products including cigarettes and cigars. However, they can also eat pet food, nuts, cereals, and candies.
Reasons
Pantry pests are in your home because they want to consume the foods in your pantry. In general, most infestations occur because you purchased contaminated food. When you purchase food, there is a risk that it is going to contain pantry pests. If this is the case, you’ll soon have an infestation. It only takes a few pests to create a full-blown infestation. They can breed around the clock.
Signs Of Pantry Pests Infestations
Unfortunately, pantry pests are incredibly small so they’re difficult to spot. They often blend in with the food that they hide in. Most people won’t realize they have a problem until they notice small moths in their pantries.
Dangers
Most homeowners are worried about pantry pests because they live in their food sources. However, these pests aren’t dangerous. They don’t bite or transmit sicknesses. You can eat pantry pests and their eggs without getting ill. Still, you won’t want to do this. Another thing to remember is that you’ll want to get rid of them to prevent them from destroying your food. They do not transmit parasites or harmful pathogens.
Preventing Infestations
Remember that pantry pests generally invade homes after someone has purchased contaminated food. If this happens, you’ll need to get rid of the pests as soon as possible. When purchasing food products, make sure they’re free of pests. It is wise to clean your pantry shelves at least once or twice a week. Make sure that your containers are clean before using them. Don’t add new food into containers with old foods. Doing so will result in the new food being contaminated too.
Eliminating Pests
You need to find a way to eliminate these pests as soon as possible. For instance, you can try using DIY methods. Although they’re helpful, they’re not perfect. For instance, you should get rid of any infested food. Find out which products are contaminated and get rid of them immediately. Also, don’t forget to clean your pantry pests regularly. Use a vacuum to get rid of pantry pest eggs and pupae.
Once you’ve done that, clean the pantry walls thoroughly. Although some DIY methods can help, some of these products are not effective. Therefore, you’ll need to work with an exterminator to solve the problem.
When Can You Begin?
Contact us so we can begin as soon as possible. Someone will contact you within 48 hours.
Safest Treatments
We are proud to provide our clients with safe treatments. We work with EPA-registered products to ensure we can keep our clients safe at all times. Plus, we’re properly trained our technicians so they know how to use these products safely. We won’t stop until the pests are gone and you’re protected.
Preventing Problems In The Future
Ultimately, it is hard to prevent pantry pests from invading your home. Make sure that you’re taking steps to ensure that food products are not contaminated. If you find pests in your food, don’t bring them inside.
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