You reach into your pantry for a bag of flour or a box of cereal, only to discover something unsettling inside—delicate, silken webbing, tiny wriggling larvae, or even small moths. Your stomach drops. This is the work of stored product pests, a common and frustrating problem for homeowners.
The first thing to know is that finding these pests is not a reflection of your home’s cleanliness. In most cases, these intruders were brought into your home as unseen eggs inside packaged goods from the grocery store. At North Point Pest Solutions, we want to walk you through how to identify, eliminate, and prevent these pantry pests from taking over your kitchen.
Meet the Most Common Culprits
While several insects can infest stored foods, two are particularly common:
- Indian Meal Moths: These are the small, nondescript moths you might see fluttering around your kitchen at night. They have reddish-brown and coppery tips on their wings. However, the real damage is done by their larvae—small, off-white “worms” that spin silken webs as they feed on grains, cereals, nuts, dried fruit, and even pet food. The webbing is often the first sign of an infestation.
- Weevils (Flour/Rice Weevils): These are tiny, dark-brown beetles with a characteristic long “snout.” They live, feed, and reproduce entirely within whole grains like rice, corn, wheat berries, and pasta. Often, you won’t know they are there until you pour out a portion and see the small adult beetles moving around.
The Four-Step Pantry Purge
If you’ve found evidence of pantry pests, a thorough clean-out is the only way to solve the problem. It requires diligence, but it is essential.
- Empty Everything: Start by taking every single item out of your pantry, cupboards, and any drawers where you store dry goods. Every box, bag, and container.
- Inspect Ruthlessly: Go through each item one by one. Look for adult insects, larvae, and webbing. Check sealed and unopened packages, as pests can chew through cardboard and thin plastic. Don’t forget to check spices, dried beans, pet food, and even decorative items like dried flowers.
- Discard Immediately: When in doubt, throw it out. Place all infested and questionable items into a heavy-duty trash bag, seal it tightly, and take it to your outdoor trash bin right away to prevent pests from re-entering your home.
- Deep Clean: Once the shelves are empty, vacuum them thoroughly. Use a crevice tool to get into every corner, crack, and shelf-pin hole where eggs or larvae might be hiding. Afterward, wipe all surfaces with soap and water.
Preventing a Future Invasion
Once your pantry is clean, you need to make it inhospitable to future pests.
- Airtight Storage is Key: This is the most crucial step. Store all grains, flours, cereals, pastas, nuts, and other dry goods in airtight containers made of glass or hard plastic. This contains any potential new infestations to a single jar and prevents them from spreading.
- Inspect Before You Buy: At the grocery store, check packaging for any signs of damage or tears.
- First-In, First-Out: Rotate your stock. Use older products before newer ones to ensure items don’t sit in your pantry for extended periods.
When to Call a Professional
Sometimes, despite a thorough cleaning, pantry pests can persist. The infestation may have spread to less obvious areas, or the original source may be difficult to pinpoint. If you’ve done a full purge and are still seeing moths or beetles, it’s time for professional help.
The experts at North Point Pest Solutions can perform a detailed inspection to locate all sources of the infestation and use targeted treatments to eliminate the pests without contaminating your food surfaces, giving you the confidence that your kitchen is truly clear.
Can’t seem to kick those pantry pests to the curb? Contact North Point Pest Solutions for a thorough inspection and reclaim your kitchen with confidence.
About North Point Pest Solutions:
North Point Pest Solutions is a leading provider of comprehensive pest control services in the north bay and the surrounding areas. We are dedicated to providing our customers with effective, environmentally responsible solutions to their pest problems. Our team of experienced and certified technicians is committed to delivering exceptional service and lasting results.
