KEEPING PANTRY PESTS OUT OF YOUR KITCHEN CUPBOARDS
Many homeowners will work hard to defend their homes from pests. However, various pests still sometimes make their way into your home. Some pests are brought right into your home and then into your pantry.
Finding pantry bugs in your stored food can be a source of immense frustration. Not only are pantry bugs unpleasant to find, but they can also cause significant damage to grains and cereals, rendering them unfit for consumption. Even pantry bug eggs can be difficult to spot, making the spread of pantry bug infestations difficult to stop. Controlling pantry bug damage requires a thorough cleaning of pantries and shelves, eliminating potential egg-laying sites.
Pantry pests are a common problem and can contaminate all of your pantry goods. A-Tex Pest Management will share a few tips on how to prevent pantry pests from invading your home.
Types of Pantry Pests
There are many different kinds of little critters found in pantries across Texas.
Some of the most common types of pantry bugs are
- Cigarette beetles
- Drugstore beetles
- Rice weevils
- Indian meal moths
These pantry pests love to feed on a variety of foods including:
- Dried fruits & veggies
- Cereals
- Candy
- Nuts
- Sugar
- Flour
- Other types of grains
Basically, anything inside your pantry is a free game for these tiny pests. Unfortunately, it can be impossible to keep these pests out of your home as they are hidden inside packaged goods as eggs are ready to hatch given the right environment.
How to Prevent Stored Food Pests
To help prevent your pantry goods from becoming a banquet for pantry pests, consider the following. There are a number of ways to control these pests and protect your home-stored food.
- Organize your pantry
- Use airtight storage containers - Make sure to use quality plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids to keep pests out.
- Freeze grains - Place flour & other fine grains in the freezer for 24 hours as the bitter cold can kill any eggs that may be present.
- Put bay leaves in your pantry - The bay leaf aroma helps repel many pests, including pantry pests.
When shopping for groceries, make sure to inspect the dry good you would store in a pantry. Check for chew marks on the box or packaging. Chew marks, even tiny ones, can indicate that a beetle, moth, or weevil has attempted to feed or lay their eggs in the food.
It’s not just the food inside the pantry that can draw or house these pests. Even seasonal decorations have their share. Decorations such as potpourri, dry foliage, or Indian corn are often equally as problematic. For seasonal decorations, make sure to properly store them in sealed crates or bins to prevent exposing them to pantry pests and more.
How to Keep Tiny Black Pantry Bugs Out of Your Kitchen Cupboards
Many pantry pests are brought into the home as tiny eggs. Some still can attempt to enter the, most especially moths. To keep pantry pests out of your home, you will want to ensure the home is secured. Make sure to repair cracks or gaps around the outside of the home.
Stored Food Pantry Pest Inspections, Control & More in Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park & Austin Texas
Make sure to inspect your home yearly. Start by inspecting doors, windows, siding, and soffits for damages or gaps. Additionally, make sure other weak points in the home are protected such as the dryer vents, attic vents, and the chimney. These vents can be covered with a wire meshing material.
For help protecting your pantry and home from pests, contact A-Tex Pest Management and schedule our services today.