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Pantry Pests Basics
In terms of household pests, pantry pests are one of the worst pests you could ever face. The unfortunate truth is that pantry pests are going to reproduce rapidly, so the problems they create will compound rapidly. They’re also referred to as stored product pests because they live in food products in your home. They might live in your cereal, flour, and other food products. They can live in flour, cereal, dry pet food, powdered milk, crackers, spices, fruits, dried nuts, and birdseed.
There are several pantry pest species, but some are more common than others. The most common pantry pest species include the saw-toothed beetle, cigarette beetle, and Indian meal moth. These pests are common found in kitchens across the United States. Pantry pests live in the food they consume, so they’re able to eat and reproduce around the clock. They don’t have to search for food throughout your home, because they live in the food they eat. As a result, a pantry pest will be able to produce several generations annually.
Although you may feel bad, you should know that pantry pest infestations are not a sign of poor housekeeping. It was likely nothing you did.
Appearance Of Pantry Pests
Indian Meal Moths
Indian meal moths are one of the most common pantry pests in Richmond. They’re small moths that are usually reddish-brown. Their back portions are coppery while their front is white. While Indian meal moth adults are problematic, the larvae are going to cause most of the flood damage. They will destroy various dried food products in homes across Virginia. Once Indian meal moths have entered your home, you’ll have a tough time getting rid of them.
They can crawl on your ceilings and develop cocoons in your kitchen. To get rid of them, hire a professional. This is the best way to take care of the problem swiftly.
Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles
Saw-toothed grain beetles have become a serious problem in Richmond. These brown beetles feature slender bodies with more growing up to 1/10ths of an inch, and they have six saw-like teeth along their thorax. Saw-toothed grain beetle adults and larvae will consume dried food products found in your home. Since they’ve scavengers, they’re going to consume open products such as flour, cereal, dried fruit, candy, dog food, and other items. Don’t be surprised if you find these pests consuming birdseed or rodent bait.
Cigarette Beetles
These light-brown beetles tend to grow up to 1/8s of an inch. They’re easy to identify thanks to their hump-back. They have smooth wings and body hairs that make them look fuzzy. As the name implies, these pantry pests tend to consume cured tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. Even if you don’t like tobacco, they’ll target your home. These pests can eat various dried food products, including spices.
What Causes Pantry Pests?
Unfortunately, pantry pest infestations are usually caused by a series of mistakes. You didn’t realize it, but you brought pantry pests into your home. The foods you purchased contained pantry pests. Now, your home is overrun with cigarette beetles. While pantry pests can enter your home from outside, most infestation begins because homeowners unexpectedly bought food products that contain pantry pests.
An infestation will usually begin with a few pests before quickly spiraling out of control. It doesn’t take long for the infestation to worsen, because pantry pests live in their food source so they can always breed and grow. Many pantry pests can produce several generations annually.
Pantry Pest Infestation Signs
Are you worried that you’re dealing with a pantry pest infestation? You could be! You need to find out. How can you determine whether or not you’re dealing with a pantry pest problem? Well, you’ll need to start by inspecting your food products. To begin, you should place your dried food items in plastic bags. Leave the bags sitting for a few months. If you notice moths and other bugs in the plastic bags, you’re likely dealing with a pantry pest problem.
While pantry pests are problematic, they’re not dangerous. Even if you ingest their eggs, you won’t get sick. Still, the thought of it is gross. You’ll want to get rid of these pests immediately so you can eat and sleep soundly.
Preventing Pantry Pest Infestations
To prevent pantry pest infestations, you need to follow certain tips. Be sure to follow the advice below to identify potential problems.
- Make sure that your food products are stored in airtight containers. Don’t use cardboard or paper because the larvae will quickly chew through these materials.
- Your pantry shelves need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
- When purchasing new food, never combine it with older food products.
- Test the food product to determine whether it is infested. Place it in a plastic bag and let it sit for a month. Get rid of food products that contain pantry pests.
- Always clean containers before using them to store new food.
Eliminating Pantry Pests
Unfortunately, removing pantry pests from your home won’t be easy. You can do it by working with a professional, but you may also want to do it yourself. Can you? Well, you can try using the tips below.
- Get rid of food items that are infested with pantry pests. Place them in plastic bags before throwing the bags in the garbage.
- Clear your pantry shelves. Then, you’ll want to use a vacuum cleaner to clean the shelves. The contents of the vacuum need to be placed in a sealed plastic bag.
- Clean all of the shelves and walls in your pantry.
While you can try using DIY, over-the-counter pesticides, they’re dangerous. And, they’re not always effective. If you want to achieve the desired results quicker, it is best to hire a professional. We offer free inspections to determine what has gone wrong. Then, we’ll help you formulate a plan to tackle your unique problem as quickly as possible.
When Can You Begin?
Contact our local exterminators today to schedule an appointment. Once you’ve done that, you shouldn’t need to wait more than 48 hours for our exterminator to visit your home.
Is Your Pantry Pest Treatment Safe?
Pantry pests are difficult to remove from homes. Still, we offer solutions you can depend on. We strive to use safe solutions that will work well for all of our clients. We use EPA-registered products and require our exterminators to follow strict protocols to deliver reliable, safe results. Put your mind at ease by using our pest removal services. We’ll get rid of your pantry pests without exposing your loved ones to unnecessary health hazards.
Preventing Future Pantry Pest Infestations
Pantry pests have become a major problem in Richmond and beyond. If you’re a resident of Virginia, learn more about the risks of pantry pests. There is a risk that you’ll have to deal with such a problem in the near future. Can you stop this from happening? Well, you’ll want to be very cautious when purchasing food products. Be sure to check the food carefully to make sure it is free of pests. Furthermore, remember you can count on us. When you notice a pantry pest infestation in your home, call us. We’ll work diligently to fix the problem you’re facing.
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