Pests in the Pantry

From the garden to the garage, pests can be found almost everywhere—but if you had to bet on one place to find them, your kitchen is a great bet.  Pests love food, and some of them certainly love the smell of your breadcrumbs in your pantry or that old bag of rice that has been sitting out for quite some time.  Many of these so-called “pantry pests” would be more than satisfied to munch down on whatever is in your pantry and bring along their friends to the party. That being said, we invite you to join us today as we tell you everything you need to know about these pantry pests and how you can prevent them in the future!

Let’s kick things off by telling you what kinds of pests are classified as the staple of pantry pests.  On the wholesale level, pantry pests include beetles (some species include the confused flour beetle—yes, that is a real species of beetle—the sawtoothed grain beetle, and the merchant grain beetles), weevils, and moths.  All of them love cereals like rice, flour, and grains, and can pick up their scent from quite a ways away. Once they have picked up the scent, they’ll try their hardest to sneak into your pantry and have a buffet of a lifetime.  

Even if you have a spotless kitchen, pests can still wander in. Cleaning, by itself, will not be an effective way to keep pests out for good, although it will help.  For the best results, keep all of your grain and dry goods stored in airtight containers. Or, when opening a bag of something, try to use all of it and not leave leftovers. For example, if you are planning to make a stir-fry later, don’t pick up that 5-pound bag of rice unless you have an empty airtight container that can hold the leftovers.  The easiest way to persuade pests to come into your kitchen is to leave food open and uncovered, and don’t think that a closed pantry door will be enough to keep them at bay.

Finally, if you happen to spot a weevil getting a little too cozy in your old bag of rice, don’t panic.  Simply throw out that bag and check to see if your other cereals are compromised. If they are, throw them out and call in the professionals, as this may be a sign of an infestation.  As a final note, remember that accidentally consuming a bug is no cause for concern—believe it or not, they are high in protein, and many nutritionists believe that they will be the food of the future. 

If you need any more advice on keeping your pantry on lock-down from beetles and weevils, feel free to give us a call!