Pest Guide: What Are Pantry Pests?

Different Types of Pantry Pests

Pantry pests, also known as stored food pests, are a destructive group of bugs that can eat food you thought was safely stored. Several beetles, weevils, moths, and more species are considered pantry pests. Each leaves a particular trail of destruction that you can use to identify what pests are in your home.

  • Weevils: Several species of weevils may infest your home, including granary weevils, maize weevils, and rice weevils. You can identify a weevil infestation by seeing their larvae in food that isn’t sealed tightly and noticing adults around your pantry.
  • Beetles: Grain beetles, along with several other species, may slip into your home, typically as larvae in packaged grain. You can identify them by their droppings, adults near your food, and the heat they generate inside bags of food they infest.
  • Moths: Indian meal moths have dark brown heads as larvae but grow into creamy-colored adults, though this may change depending on their diet. If you notice a sticky webbing inside your grain packages, it’s likely from Indian meal moths.
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How Can I Prevent a Pantry Pest Infestation

Indian Meal Moth

If you identify a pantry pest infestation, it’s essential to take steps to mitigate and eradicate any infestation.

  • Throw out any food that appears to have been damaged by pantry pests.
  • Regularly check your pantry and sealed food for signs of adult carcasses, droppings, or larvae.
  • Check to see if any excess moisture or humidity is entering your pantry, which can provide a suitable environment for insects to mature.
  • Don’t store old food next to new food, which can keep populations of pantry pests alive longer than expected.
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Common Questions About Pantry Pests

Pantry pests are dangerous because they can make you or your loved ones sick. They leave droppings on food you may believe is safe. They also can introduce harmful bacteria onto foods and create environments that let them grow out of control. You can become sickened from the toxic compounds the bacteria leave behind, which aren’t destroyed by cooking.

It can be challenging to ensure that you remove all pantry pests on your own. You also may not remedy the conditions that allowed them to flourish. A professional can safely remove the pests without using harmful chemicals that can affect your food.

It’s relatively rare, but pantry pests can enter your home from outdoors. That makes it essential to identify the likely source of any pantry pest infestation to ensure it’s properly dealt with and prevented from reoccurring.

Tips for Preventing Pantry Pests

  • Inspect food products before bringing them into your home.
  • Store food them in airtight containers.
  • Keep your pantry clean and organized.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and closed-toe shoes when you're in tick-prone areas. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
  • Remove any infested food products immediately.

How My Pest Pros Helps Eliminate Pantry Pests

My Pest Pros technicians have a lot of experience inspecting and addressing the areas where pantry pests are found. We use specialized EPA-approved products to eliminate these pests from your home while protecting your family and pets.

For ultimate protection, our professionals will work with you to find a customized solution for your pantry pest problem, today and tomorrow.

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