What are pantry pests?
Insects contaminating our food, food storage areas, and food prep areas are generally referred to as pantry pests. Beetles, moths, and weevils are some of the most common types of pantry pests. Female pantry pests lay their eggs in or on appropriate food sources. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the food provided to them, contaminating it with their feces and saliva and making the food unconsumable.
Professional home pest control services are always helpful in controlling and preventing infestations from pantry pests. Reach out to A-1 Bonded Termite today for further assistance.
Are pantry pests dangerous?
Pantry pests can cause health problems, contaminate food, cause food waste, and destroy your family's grocery budget. While these pests don't bite or sting, you don't want them in your house. If you ever discover signs of a pantry pest infestation like webbing along in the corners of food packaging, flour, or other dry goods, or shed insect exoskeletons in dry goods, immediately reach out for professional help.
Why do I have a pantry pest problem?
Pantry pests can become a problem in our homes after we unintentionally introduce them or after they enter our homes on their own. The most common way pantry pests enter any home is inside a product already infested with eggs or nymphs.
Many adult beetles and moths are attracted to light, and as they crawl around windows or doors, they find a way inside. Gaps around windows, torn screens, and openings around outdoor light fixtures are common entry points.
Where will I find pantry pests?
Pantry pests can breed and feed in a variety of stored food products regularly found in kitchen and pantry areas:
- Whole grains
- Beans and corn
- Pasta, flour, and cereal
- Dried fruits, chocolate, and cookies
- Spices
- Bird food and dried pet food
Since pantry pests invade the same food we and our pets eat, they thrive wherever we prepare or store food like grocery stores, pet stores, pharmacies, restaurants, food processing and storage facilities, and of course, our homes.
How do I get rid of pantry pests?
Have pantry pests taken over your kitchen or pantry? The best way to safely and completely remove these pests from your home is to trust the pest professionals at A-1 Bonded Termite with over 40 years of pest control experience in Long Beach, Santa Ana, and the surrounding areas.
At A-1 Bonded Termite, we treat every customer like family, and we will do our absolute best to ensure that we solve your home's pest problems through our customized, high-quality pest control and fumigation services in Anaheim. If you live in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, or San Bernardino Counties and are ready to learn more about maintaining a home or business free of pantry pests, give us a call and speak with one of our friendly residential and commercial pest professionals in Anaheim.
How can I prevent pantry pests in the future?
To help you keep pantry pests out of your kitchen, we want to provide you with the following five tips:
- Never purchase any food whose packaging appears damaged.
- Store pet food, bird food, and your family's pantry items in hard-sided containers with airtight lids.
- Regularly clean out crumbs from pantries and food storage cabinets in your home.
- Periodically clear out older or expired items from your home's pantries.
- Repair defects around windows and doors to keep adult pantry pests from entering your home.
While the above pest prevention tips are helpful, partnering with a professional is the best way to maintain a kitchen that is free of pantry pests.