Is your pantry a real feast and have insects taken up residence there? Whether it’s ants, cockroaches, or mealworms, there are simple and effective ways to prevent pests from visiting your food supply!
If you are currently struggling with this problem, here are some valuable tips to help you avoid the looming invasion of these bugs into your pantry.
How do bugs get into your pantry?
The pests you may find in your kitchen pantry mainly sneak in when the cupboards are dirty or untidy. With their keen sense of smell, insects can spot your finest foodstuffs from incredible distances.
The foods most at risk are spices, cereals, cookies, powdered substances (flour, milk, coffee, etc.) or rice, etc. To avoid finding yourself with a surprise when opening your cupboards, we advise you to reseal your bags well.
What are the signs of an insect infestation in the pantry?
Here are some telltale signs of a bug infestation in your pantry cupboards:
- Stains, discoloration, or even mold on flour are signs of infested food
- Holes in your packages
- If you find traces of cocoa powder, rice flour or semolina, it is a sign that insects are on the move
- Any appearance of moths in your cupboards is the main sign that your food is compromised
Types of pantry bugs
Although small, it’s easy to recognize bugs when they enter your cupboards. Ants, weevils, cockroaches, below is a small list of the most common insects found in your pantry.
Flour beetles
There are two types belonging to this species of flour beetle: the Tribolium confusum and the Tribolium castaneum. You will easily find them since they tend to congregate and breed in flour, cereals as well as pet food (kibble).
To get rid of them, throw away contaminated products and clean your cupboards thoroughly. You can also store your flour in tightly sealed glass, metal or plastic containers.
Grain beetles
These small brown beetles are recognizable by 6 small, sharp teeth on each side of their body. They can be found in cereals, cake mixes, cookies or even chocolate. To get rid of them, you can add a bay leaf in the boxes and packages of dry food.
Ants
Very common in the house, ants tend to move in groups and enter through doors and windows. You can use natural products to get rid of them, such as talcum powder, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and don’t forget to block suspicious entry points.
Don’t hesitate to call an ant exterminator as soon as they have invaded your home. Some species such as carpenter ants build their colony in the walls of your home.
Cockroaches
If you see cockroaches in your pantry, hurry to empty it completely and clean it out. This will scare away the pests and make it easier to exterminate them.
Cockroaches appear in your home by sneaking into furniture or other objects you bring in from outside. They also follow water pipes and electrical lines in the walls from one room to another. If your pantry is made of wood, chances are you may encounter some.
How to keep pantry bugs out
The best way to keep your pantry free of bugs is to keep them out of your home in the first place!
You can call an exterminator for a full inspection of your home. Pest control experts will be able to determine all possible entry points and then perform a complete preventive caulking of your home.
Here are some pest prevention ideas that will help you detect and eliminate pantry bugs faster.
1. Inspect the food you store in your pantry
When shopping, be sure to check all food packages. Don’t be afraid to shake or store your food in different containers than the original and make sure they seal.
Pay close attention and look for any bugs that may have snuck in, especially if you see any evidence of an opening that has been punctured in its outer seal.
2. Store your food in airtight containers
Bugs are attracted to your pantry for the same reason you are: they want to eat the food in it!
To prevent pests from invading your pantry, make sure you store your food in tightly sealed containers. If they don’t have access to the food, insects won’t be attracted to your pantry.
3. Use insect repellents
If you have a serious infestation problem, sealing your food containers will not be enough to get rid of your pantry bugs completely. You may need to use more effective methods to get rid of these pests: lavender, talcum powder, vinegar, chalk or even insect repellents.
There are many ways to get rid of household insects, but be careful, it is not advisable to use pesticides, especially if it is going to come into contact with your food. In fact, most over-the-counter pesticides are also harmful to your health, which is why we strongly advise against their use in pantries.
Bugs in your pantry? Contact Elite Pest Control
Calling an extermination service may be the solution to your problems. Ants, cockroaches, and flies have no place in your pantry, and sometimes traditional techniques have no effect on these pests.
If you are experiencing an invasion, contact us today. Our certified technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will get rid of your pest problem!
