During the holiday season, it’s easy to let foods like cookies, popcorn, candies, and other treats build up around the house. But this could be a hotbed for insects that inhabit open food containers, known as pantry pests. Pantry pests are a risk factor all year round, not just during the holiday season, so it’s essential that you know how to spot them and how to prevent them from infesting.
CJB Pest Control has put together a guide on this irritating type of pest, so you know how to protect your kitchen. Read on to learn more pantry pest control tips, and contact CJB Pest Control in Farmington Hills, MI, for all of your pest control needs!
What are Pantry Pests?
Pantry pests are different types of insects that habitat where food is present, like your pantry or cupboards. They encompass varying species of moths and beetles, including the Indian meal moth, cigarette beetle, and saw-toothed grain beetle.
Since you can’t remove all food sources from your home, these pests can be difficult to prevent. The good news is they are not dangerous, and there are many steps you can take to lower the chances of pantry pests getting into your home.
How Do They Get In?
The most common way pantry pests get in your home is through already-infested food products. This can come straight from the grocery store or from an opened product from another home. They reproduce very quickly, so once they get in, they appear in large amounts.
Their favorite food items to settle into are cereal boxes, dried fruit, pet food, nuts, flour, and candy. They are also drawn to spices like pepper, chili powder, and dried teas, as well as cigarettes and other tobacco products. Foods that have been sitting untouched for a long time are more likely to become infested, though it can happen to foods of any age.
How to Prevent Them
Keep Food Stored Tightly
Opened food packages are the number one way these pests find a home, so leaving food stored carelessly is practically inviting them in. Once you open a food product, be sure to close it as tightly as possible before putting it away. If the packaging is damaged or difficult to close, consider storing your foods in reusable containers. These are more air-tight and difficult for pests to enter.
Don’t Combine Opened Foods
You may be tempted to combine opened food packages in order to consolidate, but this is a great way to increase the pest’s range. Should a food product already be infested, combining it with another package of opened food is only going to spread the insects to more areas. If you must, thoroughly inspect each product before combining them.
Similarly, you should adopt the practice of cleaning containers before adding more food products. Keep in mind that pantry pests can infest at any stage of life, including eggs and larvae, which can be hard to spot. Even if you inspect the food, there is still a risk that you don’t see the insects.
Clean Your Pantry & Cupboards Regularly
A great way to keep pests away is by cleaning your kitchen often. Pantry pests thrive in places that remain untouched, so going in and dusting and vacuuming your pantry and cupboards regularly will help prevent them. Additionally, make sure to consume the oldest products first, as these are more likely to be infested.
Get a Professional Inspection
Sometimes pest problems are just too big to handle on your own. Once pantry pests reproduce, they tend to infest in large numbers. If you think you might be dealing with pantry pests but aren’t sure what steps to take, it’s best to call a professional. A professional pest control company will be able to inspect your home and determine what type of pests you’re dealing with. If you live in or around Oakland County, contact CJB Pest Control for a free quote!
Call CJB Pest & Mosquito Control!
When you’re dealing with any type of pest problem and don’t know where to turn, CJB Pest Control is here for you. A long-standing facet of Oakland County, we’ve been in business for over 90 years.
Looking for a professional in the Farmington Hills, MI, area to help with your pantry infestation? In need of pantry pest control tips? Contact CJB Pest Control today!
