Pantry Pests

What are Pantry Pests?

Pantry Pests are a group of pests, commonly made up of Indian Meal Moths, Saw Tooth Grain Beetles and Cigarette Beetles among others. Indian Meal Moths (Plodia interpunctella) are moths from the family Pyralidae and its larvae, generally known as waxworms, are a common grain-feeding pest found around the world, feeding on cereals and dry grain products. Saw Tooth Grain Beetles (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) are slender bodied, flat, brown beetles that are about 1/10 inch long with six saw-like tooth projections on each side of the thorax (the section between the head and abdomen). Cigarette Beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) are light brown, around 1/8 inch long, have a "hump-backed" appearance, smooth wing covers and body hairs that give it an almost “fuzzy” appearance.

Why do I have them?

Pantry Pests have an appetite for many types of stored food products such as: flour, cereal, dry pasta, dry pet food, powdered milk, corn starch, crackers, spices, breads, bird seed, dried nuts and fruit. They can enter the home from outside sources of from adjacent homes and apartments but more commonly are brought into the home in contaminated packaged foods. Most of their life is spent living in this infested matter and they often closely resemble the color of their food. Pantry pests can breed almost continuously as they tend to live in close to ideal circumstances and can complete several generations in the course of a single year. Their presence in the home is not necessarily an indication of the quality of the housekeeper.

Are they dangerous?

Indian Meal Moths, Saw Tooth Grain Beetles and Cigarette Beetles are not in themselves dangerous. The biggest threat they pose is of infestation and spoiled food - creating waste and increased living costs to the homeowner. If the insects themselves or their eggs are ingested, don’t panic. Indian Meal Moths, Saw Tooth Grain Beetles and Cigarette Beetles do not have any known diseases, they don’t carry any known parasites nor do they carry any harmful pathogens.

How do you get rid of Pantry Pests?

Getting rid of Pantry Pests can be a difficult task because, even though they are not particularly fast moving, agile or wary, they naturally blend in with their environment, making them difficult to identify. Rose Pest Solutions - experts at Pantry Pest removal - will create a custom tailored Pantry Pest program to suit your requirements and rid you of these troublesome pests.

Can I do it myself?

Due to the difficulties in recognizing Pantry Pests and knowing the most effective course of treatment, Pantry Pests are generally not successfully eradicated by Do-It-Yourself methods. You should be aware when buying pesticides and other pest control products that many are not effective and pesticides can be very harmful or deadly to people and pets if they are misused or mixed improperly - especially around food stuffs in your pantry.

How soon can you get here?

At Rose Pest Solutions, we are 100% committed to helping you as soon as possible. In many cases, we can respond to your call the same or very next day.

Is the treatment safe?

Rose Pest Solutions operate under the strictest guidelines as laid down by the EPA. Every pest control product we use has been the subject of careful testing and approval by the EPA to ensure that it will not pose a health hazard to people, pets or plants. Should any specific safety precautions be required, our highly trained service professionals will inform you immediately.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Pantry Pest problems can be difficult to prevent. Ensuring all food products such as flour, cereal, dry pasta, dry pet food, powdered milk, corn starch, crackers, spices, breads, bird seed, dried nuts and fruit are stored in air-tight containers and that your pantry or cupboards are kept clean and free of open food containers will minimize the risk of Pantry Pest infestation.