Without you knowing it, you could be dealing with a bug problem in your home. More specifically, there could be bugs in your pantry that you can’t even see. Among the bugs that could be found in your pantry are small beetles, moths and weevils. While these pests tend to be annoying, they aren’t really dangerous things. These pests don’t necessarily sting, bite or even pose a risk for damaging your property. So how do you get rid of these pests? Here are things you need to know about them:
Where Do These Pests Come From?
Even if your kitchen is spotless, this does not necessarily make your home exempt from these pests. Most of the time, these pests enter your home by hitching a food item you picked up from a grocery store. They also usually come from a warehouse or processing plant, where they easily pick up these pests.
Which Foods Are They Attracted To?
Pantry pests are usually attracted to grains such as cereals and flours. They also like spices, nuts, beans, dried fruits and processed foods. They do not really have a preference since they can invade dried food stored at room temperature. These pests primarily target open packages since they can easily enter these. Despite this, they still manage to get into unopened packages.
What to Do If You Spot a Bug in a Bag of Rice
When you find a bug in a package of rice, you need to get rid of it. You then have to check the other packages that surround it. You can place each item on a baking sheet and use a flashlight to check every single one. If you are unable to spot anything, that means you can keep the other foods since it was likely an isolated case. The problem could have been an early sign of infestation that you were able to take care of right away.
What to Do If You Spot a Lot of Bugs in Your Pantry
On the other hand, if you spot a lot of bugs in your pantry, that means that you have an infestation. You will need to completely empty your pantry and vacuum the floors, corners and shelves. Make sure to wash the space with soapy water. Avoid using bleach, pesticides or ammonia. These chemicals won’t guarantee that you won’t have another infestation. If you use chemicals, pests will likely come in contact with them and could contaminate the food.
What to Do If You Ate Something With a Bug
If you discovered that you ate something containing a bug, you don’t need to worry. These pests are not poisonous. Ingesting one or two bugs won’t harm you.
How to Keep Bugs Out Of Your Pantry
- Proper Storage. The best way you can prevent pests from invading your pantry is to properly store all your snacks and ingredients for baking using airtight glass or plastic canisters.
- Shop Wisely. Most pantry pests usually come from items that were already infested when they were purchased from a grocery store. When you buy something, make sure that you closely inspect the packaging to ensure that it does not have any damage.
- Check for Expired Products. Before you use items from your pantry, make sure to check their expiration dates. If you have something that’s been in your pantry for a long time period, you should toss it out.
- Clean Your Pantry. Whenever you see a spill or crumb on your table, floor, countertops and shelves, wipe it up immediately. You should also remember to throw your trash away regularly in sealed receptacles.
- Use Bay Leaves. You can also keep pantry pests away from your ingredients by adding a bay leaf in the package of your rice, flour and other grains. This is because the pungent scent of the herbs repel these pests away.
Knowing how to keep pests away from your pantry is important so you can make sure you don’t encounter these annoying pests. Even though they’re not dangerous, they can quickly multiply and spread to other items you have in your pantry.
Written by BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care. BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care offers the best service for pest control in Columbia, MO.
