How often do you check the ingredients on the food you buy? If you are allergic to anything, on a diet, or fascinated with how food is made, you probably check labels all the time. If not, you might take a look once in a blue moon. Either way, we have some information today that might come as a shock.
What if we told you one nasty ingredient is sneaking into boxes of food all across Snohomish, and even worse, if you looked for it on the label, you wouldn’t find it? We aren’t talking about some mystery ingredient that the manufacturers snuck in, we are referring to pantry pests. If you don’t know much about these pests, but know you don’t want them in your food, here are a few things you ought to know.
What Are Pantry Pests?
Pantry pests are any pests that invade homes and lay their eggs inside stored foods. Beetles and moths are the two most common insects that are known for doing this. Flour beetles, cigarette beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, Indian meal moths, and Mediterranean flour moths, specifically love getting into boxes of dried foods. Now, adult pantry pests aren’t looking for a snack; they are looking for reliable sources of food for their larvae.
Eggs are laid inside stored foods and hatched into larvae, a.k.a. grubs. These grubs feed on cereal, rice, flour, coffee, you name it until they mature into adulthood. At this point, they will look for a way out and another location to lay more eggs; this is how pantry pest infestations spread throughout homes.
How Pantry Pests Invade Homes
Although pantry pests can invade through cracks, gaps, and openings in your home’s exterior, they are more likely to sneak into your house inside a box of food. Most commonly, pantry pests will invade food products at the location they are manufactured or sold. Open or damaged boxes of food give moths and beetles the perfect opportunity to crawl or fly over and slip inside. By the time you have bought the infested box of food and brought it home, eggs have hatched, larvae are on their way to adulthood, and your problems have just begun.
Prevention Tips For Pantry Pests
Because pantry pests invade homes in several different ways, prevention is often a bit difficult. If you are up for the task, use these practical tips:
- Invest in proper food storage by buying airtight Tupperware-type containers. Store leftover foods and repackage dried foods into these containers.
- During off-seasons, store dried foliage, Indian corn, and potpourri inside airtight containers.
- Open boxes of dried foods and place a bay leaf inside. Many pantry pests hate the scent of this herb.
- Inspect boxes of dried foods for damaged or broken seals before buying.
- Keep your home clean.
- Use a caulking gun to seal cracks, gaps, and openings in your home’s exterior foundation and around window and door frames.
- Make sure your home’s window and door screens are in good condition.
- Repair or replace loose or damaged door sweeps and weatherstripping.
How To Get Rid Of Pantry Pests
No one likes eating grubs in their breakfast cereal. If you have found pantry pests inside your Snohomish home, do not hesitate to get the professionals at Guard Pest Control involved. Our team is highly trained in advanced pest eliminating and exclusion methods and would be happy to put our experience to use in your home.
Reach out to our team today to find an affordable and effective solution to your home’s pest problems.