The Big Three of Pantry Pests

As a group, pantry pests contain a variety of insects. However, these three species commonly appear in homes. 

• Indian meal moths are rather small with tri-color wings. Their forewings are reddish-brown, the middle sections are whitish gray, followed by a coppery luster in the rear. Adult moths don’t cause much damage…but their larvae are another matter! They will eat a wide variety of dried food products and are notoriously difficult to eliminate.
• Unlike Indian meal moths, both adult and larval saw-toothed grain beetles will attack your food supplies. These brown, slender-bodied bugs get their name from the six saw-like tooth projections on each side of their thorax. They typically reach a size of about 1/10 inch in adulthood, making them very difficult to spot. These scavengers feed on loose or open products like flour, cereal, candy, dried fruit, etc. It’s not uncommon to find them in pet food, bird seed, and rodent bait.
• That brings us to the last of the group: cigarette beetles. Growing to about 1/8”, these nuisances are light brown with a “hump-backed” appearance. They’re characterized by smooth wing covers and body hairs that make them look kind of “fuzzy.” 

Known for feeding on cured tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars (hence their name), in a residential setting members of this species often find their way to cereals, spices, nuts, and pet foods! They may also be found in decorative items made with dried plants, such as pepper arrangements and wreaths.

How Can They Get into My House?

Pantry pests most often gain entrance to your house inside food packages you bought at the store! If you happen to see any, don’t blame yourself. (You may not be able to blame anyone in the supply chain, either.) 

That’s because most suppliers work hard to make sure their products are delivered and sold in reasonable condition. But it’s virtually impossible to remove every impurity during milling and packing, and to keep a few packages from being compromised. Some larvae might make it through processing, and chances are good a few insects will crawl into a bags during storage and shipment.

While you may never know how these pests came to your kitchen, one thing is certain: they are very prolific when a supply of nourishment is available. Pantry pests breed almost continuously. In fact, they can spawn several generations in a year! For that reason, you must be diligent to prevent infestations, and act quickly when telltale signs appear. 

How Can I Tell if an Infestation is in the Making?

Given their small size and coloration, all three species can be hard to spot. You may not recognize an infestation as it develops. Most people realize what’s happened when they see very small moths flitting about your cabinets. That said, if you have sharp eyes, you may spot tiny beetles or larvae inside containers before moths emerge.

Although quite obnoxious, Indian meal moths, saw-toothed grain beetles, and cigarette beetles are not particularly dangerous to humans. As a group they are not known to carry parasites, host harmful pathogens, or cause any disease. If you accidentally ingest these insects or their eggs, don’t worry! You shouldn’t experience any adverse effects. 

Their real threat is to your pocketbook as they will render food unusable, forcing replacement. Given the spiraling price of groceries, once this problem surfaces you’ll want to act quickly to mitigate losses.

How Can I Prevent an Infestation?

The best offense is a good defense when dealing with pantry pests. Begin by inspecting your purchases closely in the store. Avoid open and poorly-sealed packages. If a product package features a plastic window, look closely at the contents. At home:

• Pour dried products (flour, corn meal, etc.) into tight-fitting sealed containers. I recommend doing this because larvae can chew their way out of paper packaging and settle in other products. Examine contents for irregularities during the transfer.
• Clean pantry shelves regularly to remove small bits of food that pantry pests thrive on.
• Never combine old and new dry food products unless you’re absolutely sure both are pest-free.
• Empty and wash storage containers periodically…especially before filling them with fresh food. This prevents any resident pests from contaminating new products.

Not sure a powdered food product contains bugs? Test it by putting the product in a tightly-sealed clear plastic bag and observe it for about a month. If infested, you will see pests accumulate in the bag.

Can these Pests Be Eliminated from My Pantry?

Ridding your pantry of pests can be quite a chore. Even though they’re not particularly fast-moving, agile, or wary, they are tiny and blend with their environment very well. You can try removing them yourself. 

To do this you must first pinpoint the infestation’s source. After you’ve identified the cause:

• Discard all affected items by sealing them in a plastic bag and depositing in an outdoor trash receptacle.
• Remove everything from each pantry shelve and vacuum surfaces to remove pests, eggs, and pupae that may be hiding in the crevices. Put the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag before disposing outdoors.
• Wash shelves, walls, and corners thoroughly before returning items to the pantry.

Important Note: If you’re considering using an over-the-counter pesticide to solve your problem, beware! Applying treatments around food can be tricky. They may prove harmful to people and pets, particularly if misused or mixed improperly. Plus, not all OTC treatments are effective.

If you think you have a pest problem, why not contact KC Pest Control at (405) 679-8729 instead of going it alone? We’ve been safely and successfully controlling pests in kitchens and pantries for years. All our products meet or exceed EPA requirements and are approved for use around people, pets, and plants. We’ll provide a free inspection and can recommend a treatment plan if trouble is found.