Have you ever gone into the pantry, opened up a box of food, and look down to see the lovely surprise of a bug? Pantry pests are common in food preparation areas, kitchens or food storage areas. These stored product pests will usually enter your home via purchased products and can infest other products once inside of your home.
Stored Pests:
- Indian Meal Moth
- Drugstore Beetle
- Flour Beetle
- Spider Beetle
- Grain Weevil
Managing Pantry Pests
The first step in controlling pantry pests is to find and eliminate the infested items. Infested packages are usually the oldest ones in the pantry. Since many of these pests can easily penetrate plastic, waxed paper, and cardboard containers, unopened containers will also be prone to infestation. Once all of the infested food has been thrown away, clear out the cabinets, and begin to vacuum. Be sure to get the cracks and crevices where the insects hide, including the underneath side.
Chemical Solution
A spray may be needed to control difficult infestations in areas that are often inaccessible. Before spraying, remove all food products, utensils, and containers from the treatment area. Apply to crevices and voids around cupboards, drawers, and pantries. Allow the spray to dry before placing clean shelf paper on the shelves and returning food, utensils, or containers to the pantry. Since chemicals can be hazardous to handle, it may be in your best interest to hire a pest control expert.
It’s best to check your food regularly for pests to make sure that your home is not infested. When an infestation does manifest itself, contact the professionals at Knockout Pest Control. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.
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