Pantry Pest FAQ
What are Pantry Pests?
The term "pantry pests" refers to a collective group of insect pests such as moths and beetles that like to feed on stored product foods. There are literally hundreds of different kinds of pantry pests, but the more common species include rice weevils, grain moths, grain bores, granary weevils, drugstore beetles, Indian meal moths, tobacco beetles, and confused flour beetles.
What kinds of foods do Pantry Pests eat? Pantry pests enjoy a variety of people and pet foods, the most common being stored product foods that are stored in paper containers and are left unused for long periods of time. Such foods include dry cereals and pastas, flour, dry pet food, corn starch, powdered milk, crackers, breads, bird seed, spices, and dried fruits and nuts.
How will I know if I have pantry pests?
Pantry pest infestations are easy to miss at first, because most species are very, very small-in fact the egg and larval stages are extremely difficult to see with the eye. Your first warning sign of an infestation will probably be the emergence of larger adults-small flying moths or beetles found in or around stored food products.
How did they get in my pantry?
Fear not- the fact that you have pantry pests does not immediately mean that you are a poor housekeeper. Pantry pests are often transported into the home already inside packaged foods. They can also sneak in from outside sources or connected housing units.
What do pantry pests look like?
Most pantry pests are beetles, moths, or weevils. Unfortunately, pantry pests may be difficult to spot at first because they are usually the color of the food they are living in, and because of their small size. In general, the immature pantry pest looks like a caterpillar or grub, while the adult pantry pest will appear as a small flying moth or beetle found in or around stored food products
Will they go away on their own?
I hate to break it to you, but probably not. Once they find a tasty food source, pantry pests spend most of their lives crawling happily about in the infested food material. Inside your pantry, these pests pass easily from package to package. As long as conditions are favorable, the pantry pest will continue to breed, completing several generations in a year. There is hope, however, with the proper inspection and control measures.
How can I get rid of Pantry Pests?
For more information on how to get rid of pantry pests, see How to Get Rid of Pantry Pests
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