Whether your Anaheim kitchen gets used to feed a family or satisfy business customers, it typically runs short of storage and countertop space, making pantries a huge benefit. Pantries are great for storing overflow items, most especially food. Still, if foods aren't stored properly, pantry pests can quickly invade and ruin foods without help from a reliable pest control company in Anaheim.
Types Of Pantry Pests: A Comprehensive Overview
Having a place to store excess foods is helpful, but often stored items can become infested with bugs, ruining foods and ultimately costing you money. For those fortunate to have a pantry, it is good to become familiar with the pantry pests that commonly infest pantry products.
The pantry pests commonly found in Anaheim include:
- Weevils
- Beetles
- Moths
Bean, granary, and rice weevils love pantry foods; their distinct noses help identify them as their bodies resemble a light bulb or pear. They typically grow between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long and have a reddish-brown to black coloration.
Other frequent invaders are warehouses, saw-toothed grain, merchant grain, confused flour, red flour, drugstore, and cigarette beetles. They average around 1/8 of an inch long and have brown or black coloration.
Another common pantry invader is the Indian meal moth. It grows between 1/3 to 2/5 of an inch long and has brownish-red coppery forewings and an inner body region that usually has a white or gray coloration.
Whatever pantry pest wiggles or lands in your foodstuffs, the results are the same, ruined food. Pantry pests can quickly spread to other items in your pantry, so contacting the professionals at A-1 Bonded Termite is vital in keeping your kitchen bug-free.
Pantry Pest Damage: How They Ruin Stored Food
People might wonder how tiny weevils, beetles, and moths can ruin food. Consuming large quantities of food isn't the main issue with pantry pests; it's contamination. Pantry pests infest cereal products (flour, crackers, cake mixes, cookies, rice, pasta), seeds (dried beans and popcorn), spices, powdered milk, tea, chocolates, and nuts (to name a few). As they move through your food stores, their bodies and feces contaminate them.
Pantry pests also reproduce while dwelling in food and will lay eggs there. Eggs become larvae; this stage is particularly harmful, making foods smell and taste terrible. Pantry pest beetles that reach adulthood can cause extensive damage, and some have hairs that can irritate your stomach, throat, and mouth when ingested. Others produce toxic compounds (mycotoxins), which some say are cancer-causing. Protecting those you feed is vital, so if you're discovering pests in the pantry, call in the professionals at A-1 Bonded Termite.
Sealing The Deal: How To Properly Store Food To Deter Pantry Pests
Regarding preventing pantry pests in your structure, two things are most important – proper storage and cleanliness. Practicing some simple tips and techniques can help property owners ensure that panty pests keep out of food.
Five steps property owners can take to stop pantry pest infestations include:
- Check foods and bulk items for damages or broken seals.
- Store purchased foods in airtight containers (heavy plastic, glass, or metal).
- Store foods in a dry, cool environment, refrigerator, or freezer.
- Keep pantries clean; frequently vacuum cracks and crevices.
- Seal cracks, gaps, and corners in pantries to eliminate crumbs and pests.
Pantry pests often get into buildings when items purchased from warehouses or stores get brought into buildings. Once these pests get into products, they can spread rapidly. If pantry pests slip past your well-placed prevention measures, call in the pest experts at A-1 Bonded Termite to utilize our effective pantry pest control products.
Pantry Pest Extermination: When To Call In The Professionals For Help
When pests appear in the pantry, it's time to call in the pest professionals at A-1 Bonded Termite for help. Our company is a third-generation, family-owned and operated business. For over 40 years, we've been a leader in quality termite and pest control services, offering our customers the highest level of service.
Whether pantry pests are in your home or business, our trained professionals can provide effective treatments to remove them. Contact A-1 Bonded Termite today for a free inspection and take advantage of our pantry pest control expertise and our 100% service guarantee on our home pest control services in Anaheim.