Keep Pests Out of Your Pantry

Article: Keeping Pests Out Of The Pantry

Have you ever discovered tiny bugs creating a tunnel town in your flour or baking mix? Ever spotted bugs in a box of cereal, found dried up beetle bodies on top of the china hutch or watched a grain weevil pour out of a box of macaroni? If you answered yes, don't worry. You're not alone. No matter how tidy your kitchen is, sooner or later you're bound to run across some pests in your pantry.

Common Pantry Pests

There are many different insects found in stored food products. Sometimes they arrive after we store food, and sometimes they arrive in it. Because these insects are able to reproduce year round, they can appear during any stage (egg, larva, pupa, adult) of their life cycle.

Some bugs prefer to feed on plant materials, while others prefer foods containing animal proteins. Here are some of the most commonly seen pantry pests:

• Indian Meal Moths
• Angoumois Grain Moth
• Dermestid Beetles (Warehouse, Carpet, Hide & Larder Beetles)
• Saw-toothed Grain Beetles
• Cigarette & Drugstore Beetles
• Red Flour Beetles
• Granary, Rice, Bean & Corn Weevils
• Merchant Beetles

Tips For Control

Despite strict manufacturing and sanitation practices, it's a fact of life that a certain amount of insects show up in the foods that we purchase. These foods include grains, seeds, dried fruits, cured meats, pet foods, sugar, spices and baking mixes. It can even include our macaroni and cheese (oh, the horror!). Obviously we can never completely prevent pests from arriving in our home via food from the grocery store, but there are things we can do to prevent them from setting up permanent residence in our pantries and cupboards.

• Clean up food spills (especially grains and pet foods) immediately.

• Don't allow crumbs and food particles to accumulate. Vacuum your pantry periodically.

• Wipe down pantry shelf paper (including underneath it). Don't use bleach, ammonia or other strong detergents in food storage areas-they won't affect the insects. Wiping down shelves with hot water and a mild detergent is sufficient.

• Keep bird food and pet food in airtight plastic containers.

• Do not purchase boxed foods if the carton appears to have been damaged in shipping. Inspect packages carefully and make sure bags and cartons are well sealed.

• Frequently inspect food for possible infestations. Remove any infested foods from the pantry immediately.

• Use older pantry foods first before opening new packages.
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• Pantry insects can easily chew through plastic wrap, wax paper and cardboard. Remove pantry foods from their original containers and store them in glass or plastic containers with airtight seals.

• Store flour and other cold foods in the refrigerator or freezer to keep bugs out.

• Purchase only as much food as you will go through in a short time. Try to use cereal and grain products within two weeks of purchase.

• Place foods in the oven (pet foods, dried peas and beans, for example) at 140º F for 1 hour to eliminate pests.

• If pest problems continue, seek assistance from a licensed professional.

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