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Different Pests You Find in Your Pantry

YESpestpros • July 25, 2021

Your pantry is a haven for your cereal, baking ingredients, and snacks that you eat in your home. However, no matter how clean you keep your pantry, even the most organized pantries will have pantry pests at some point. 

While a pest inspection is the best way to identify what kind of pests are living in your pantry, you can locate them on your own if you know how to tell them apart. Here is a brief overview of common pantry pests that make their home among dried goods.

What are Pantry Pests?

Pantry pests are tiny insects that infest dried foods such as flour, rice, crackers, or cereal. At times, these small insects originate at the point of purchase instead of your home. But, unfortunately, they make their way inside your pantry by hiding among the packaging of these products. Although they may go unnoticed for some time, you’ll start to notice these bugs when they leave the infested foods to fly around your home.

Common Pantry Pests

Ants

Ants are the most common of the pantry pests. Perhaps it’s because ants live in large colonies and easily find their way into your home through doorways and windowsills. There are many species of ants , but sugar and Pharaoh ants are generally the species that find their way into your pantry. 

One of the best ways to get rid of these bugs is to set out bait for them to take back to the colony. However, if you find that this is only a temporary fix, schedule a pest inspection for a professional to determine the best course of action. 

Weevils

Grain weevils, also known as granary weevils, are small, dark brown insects with long snouts. Their larvae are white and legless and generally left inside whole kernels or seeds. Instead of feeding on processed foods and cereals, weevils eat grains, beans, and seeds. 

While rare, you may see weevils inside foods such as flour, macaroni, or nuts. Keep in mind, though, that weevils can easily chew through paper and plastic packaging, so moving your dried goods into an airtight glass or steel container is recommended.

Indian Meal Moths

Indian meal moths thrive in pantries due to their food of choice. They love to eat grains, dried fruits, nuts, and cereals — all foods that live in your pantry year-round. However, they are small enough to burrow through bags, so it’s better to store food in airtight containers to keep them from getting through. 

Contact YESPest for a Pest Inspection in Your Pantry

If you suspect that you’re dealing with a pest infestation in your pantry, don’t sit back and let your dried goods go to waste. The professionals at YESPest can provide you with a pest inspection to identify the pests you have and create a plan of action to get rid of them. 

Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation. Give us a call or fill out our online contact form to get one step closer to a pest-free pantry.

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