As baking season approaches you may find yourself reaching to the back of your cabinet for something that hasn’t been used since last year. As you dust off containers and search for an expiration date be sure to sift through ingredients as well. Fall weather sends pests indoors and what better place to hide then shelves full of food. If it’s been a while since you’ve wiped your shelves with soapy hot water, you could have some occasional invaders eating their way through your ingredients. Some pantry pests, like weevils and beetles make their way onto your shelves by hitching a ride in the ingredients. Below we have outlined the usual suspects. Click on the bug for information about their habits and what food source they’re seeking.
Common Pantry Pests
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Confused Flour Beetle |
Rice Weevil |
Grain Weevil |
Indian Meal Moth |
5 Tips to Keep Pests out of the Pantry
- Check food items at store before purchasing to make sure there are no holes or tears in packaging. Sift through items before using at home.
- Keep pantry items stored in sealed air-tight containers.
- Use hot soapy water to wash out cabinets, wipe crumbs from from counters, and sweep crumbs up from the floor.
- Look for cracks and holes around pantry and seal them using steel wool or silicone.
Keeping your kitchen clear of food waste will cut back the allure to scrap-seeking pests. Pests like rats, cockroaches and flies have the ability to cause illness by contaminating food and spreading harmful bacteria. Protect the health of your family, guests and yourself by keeping your kitchen clean. If you are having difficulty getting to the root of the cause, our well-trained professionals can offer more support.
A Solution to Your Pesky Problems
Overwhelmed, overrun, or just too busy? Have no fear, we have a solution! Our Healthy Home Maintenance Program (HHMP) protects you all year ’round from all the pests we mentioned above and all the pests listed below. Call us today at 800-GOT-PESTS. Our service professionals will help to build a plan, get rid of your issue, and teach you what you need to know to maintain a happy, healthy, pest-free home. HHMP provides you with the support of being able to go about your busy day as usual, knowing you have a pest-free home to come back to. We even have Eco-Friendly options.
